Winter Storm Warning 9, NWS Anchorage, AK

311 
WWAK41 PAFC 161438 AAA
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATED
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
538 AM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

AKZ103-170300-
/O.CON.PAFC.WS.W.0009.231216T2200Z-231217T1200Z/
East Turnagain Arm-
Including the cities of Girdwood and Portage
538 AM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 3 AM AKST SUNDAY FOR PORTAGE VALLEY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 
  inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph through Portage Valley.

* WHERE...East Turnagain Arm.

* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 3 AM AKST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on hazardous travel conditions.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Light snow and gusty winds will develop 
  by late Saturday morning. The snow will become heavier 
  throughout the afternoon, reaching rates of 1 to 2 inches per 
  hour between 4 pm and 10 pm. The combination of heavy snow and 
  gusty winds will significantly reduce visibility. Temperatures 
  will warm into the lower to mid 30s with this event. As such, 
  blowing snow should not be a concern during periods of heavier 
  snow this afternoon and evening. Rain may mix with snow around 
  Portage at times. Any rain will help lower overall snow 
  amounts. The snow is expected to taper off Sunday morning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions will make travel very hazardous. If you must travel,
keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case
of an emergency.

For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1 or visit
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$

AKZ126-170300-
/O.CON.PAFC.WS.W.0009.231216T2200Z-231217T1200Z/
Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Whittier, Seward, and Moose Pass
538 AM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 3 AM AKST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 
  inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph near Whittier and 30 
  mph through Turnagain Pass.

* WHERE...Whittier and Turnagain Pass to Summit Lake.

* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 3 AM AKST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on hazardous travel conditions.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Light snow and gusty winds will develop 
  by late Saturday morning. The snow will become heavier 
  throughout the afternoon, reaching rates of 1 to 2 inches per 
  hour between 4 pm and 10 pm. The combination of heavy snow and 
  gusty winds will significantly reduce visibility. Temperatures 
  will warm into the mid 30s with this event. As such, blowing 
  snow should not be a concern during periods of heavier snow 
  this afternoon and evening. Rain may mix with snow around 
  Whittier at times. Any rain will help lower overall snow 
  amounts. The snow is expected to taper off Sunday morning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions will make travel very hazardous. If you must travel,
keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case
of an emergency.

For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1 or visit
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$

AKZ132-170300-
/O.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0065.231217T0300Z-231217T1500Z/
Northeast Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Valdez and Thompson Pass
538 AM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS
EVENING TO 6 AM AKST SUNDAY FOR THOMPSON PASS...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow 
  accumulations of 8 to 16 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 
  mph. Visibility as low as one half mile.

* WHERE...THOMPSON PASS.

* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 6 AM AKST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing 
  snow could significantly reduce visibility.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow and gusty winds will develop this 
  afternoon ahead of a front advancing toward the coast. Snow 
  will become heavier Saturday night as the front moves to the 
  coast. Gusty northeasterly winds will become southeast and 
  eventually southwest as the front moves through the region 
  Sunday morning. Snow will taper off as the front lifts north 
  with winds slowly diminishing through Sunday afternoon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1 or visit
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$

http://www.weather.gov/afc

084 
WWAK41 PAFC 162221
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
121 PM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

AKZ103-171200-
/O.CON.PAFC.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-231217T1200Z/
East Turnagain Arm-
Including the cities of Girdwood and Portage
121 PM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM AKST
SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 
  inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph through Portage Valley.

* WHERE...East Turnagain Arm.

* WHEN...Until 3 AM AKST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on hazardous travel conditions.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The snow will become heavier throughout the
  afternoon, reaching rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour between 4 pm
  and 10 pm. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds will
  significantly reduce visibility. Temperatures will warm into the
  lower to mid 30s with this event. Rain may mix with snow around
  Portage at times. Any rain will help lower overall snow 
  amounts. The snow is expected to taper off Sunday morning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions will make travel very hazardous. If you must travel,
keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case
of an emergency. 

For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1 or visit
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$

AKZ126-171200-
/O.CON.PAFC.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-231217T1200Z/
Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Whittier, Seward, and Moose Pass
121 PM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM AKST
SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 
  inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph near Whittier and 30 
  mph through Turnagain Pass.

* WHERE...Whittier and Turnagain Pass to Summit Lake.

* WHEN...Until 3 AM AKST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on hazardous travel conditions.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The snow will become heavier throughout the
  afternoon, reaching rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour between 4 pm
  and 10 pm. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds will
  significantly reduce visibility. Temperatures will warm into the
  mid 30s with this event. Rain may mix with snow around Whittier
  at times. Any rain will help lower overall snow amounts. The 
  snow is expected to taper off Sunday morning.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions will make travel very hazardous. If you must travel,
keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case
of an emergency. 

For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1 or visit
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$

AKZ132-171400-
/O.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0065.231217T0300Z-231217T1500Z/
Northeast Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Valdez and Thompson Pass
121 PM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS
EVENING TO 6 AM AKST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations
  of 6 to 12 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. Visibility 
  as low as one half mile.

* WHERE...Thompson Pass.

* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 6 AM AKST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing 
  snow could significantly reduce visibility.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow and gusty winds will develop this 
  afternoon ahead of a front advancing toward the coast. Snow 
  will become heavier Saturday night as the front moves to the 
  coast. Gusty northeasterly winds will become southeast and 
  eventually southwest as the front moves through the region 
  Sunday morning. Snow will taper off as the front lifts north 
  with winds slowly diminishing through Sunday afternoon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. 

For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1 or visit
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$

http://www.weather.gov/afc

395 
WWAK41 PAFC 171154
WSWAER

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
254 AM AKST Sun Dec 17 2023

AKZ103-171300-
/O.EXP.PAFC.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-231217T1200Z/
East Turnagain Arm-
Including the cities of Girdwood and Portage
254 AM AKST Sun Dec 17 2023

...WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 3 AM AKST EARLY THIS
MORNING...

Snow showers will continue through Sunday morning. Little to no
new accumulation is expected.

$$

AKZ126-171300-
/O.EXP.PAFC.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-231217T1200Z/
Western Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Whittier, Seward, and Moose Pass
254 AM AKST Sun Dec 17 2023

...WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 3 AM AKST EARLY THIS
MORNING...

Snow showers will continue through Sunday morning. Little to no
new accumulation is expected.

$$

AKZ132-171500-
/O.CON.PAFC.WW.Y.0065.000000T0000Z-231217T1500Z/
Northeast Prince William Sound-
Including the cities of Valdez and Thompson Pass
254 AM AKST Sun Dec 17 2023

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST
EARLY THIS MORNING...

* WHAT...Snow and blowing snow expected. Total snow 
  accumulations of 6 to 12 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 
  mph. Visibility as low as one half mile.

* WHERE...Thompson Pass.

* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 6 AM AKST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Areas of blowing 
  snow could significantly reduce visibility.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow and gusty winds will persist ahead of
  a front advancing toward the coast. Gusty northeasterly winds 
  will become southeast and eventually southwest as the front 
  moves through the region Sunday morning. Snow will taper off as 
  the front lifts north with winds slowly diminishing through 
  Sunday afternoon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. 

For the latest road conditions call 5 1 1 or visit
511.alaska.gov.

&&

$$

http://www.weather.gov/afc

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
508 PM AKST Fri Dec 15 2023

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)...

Snowfall in the Anchorage area will move off to the east this
evening and continue across the northern Gulf toward the panhandle
coast. Snow over Prince William Sound and the Copper River Basin
will wind down overnight. Skies should clear behind this feature;
however, lingering low stratus is possible across Cook Inlet
through Saturday morning.

Attention then turns back to the west as a storm force low sweeps
a front from Kodiak Saturday morning to the Southcentral coast by
Sunday morning. Strong wind gusts are likely both along the coast
and through gaps as the pressure gradients tightens. Heavy
precipitation is also likely along the coast with ample moisture
advecting over the Gulf with east-southeast winds. The challenge
will be determining if locations along the coast will see enough
of a warm-up to change snow over to rain by Sunday morning.
A foot or more of snow is possible from Thompson Pass to
Turnagain Pass if enough cold air remains in place. Locations in
the lee of the mountains will likely see little precipitation due
to downsloping. Southerly winds and a brief warm up is likely from
Kenai to Palmer as the front lifts north by midday Sunday.
However, this system will be quickly occluded with colder air
wrapping back in. So any brief warm up with southerly winds should
come to an end as wins diminish and colder air returns by Sunday
evening.

Models show multiple shortwaves lingering through the weekend,
clearing the Kenai Peninsula and the Anchorage area by Monday
morning, with precipitation continuing for the Prince William
Sound. The NAM alone maintains precipitation over the northern
Kenai, Anchorage, and Mat-Su, regions through Tuesday.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA/ALEUTIANS/BERING SEA (Days 1
through 3: Tonight through Monday evening)...

Active weather looks to continue through the short-term period.
across mainland Southwest, the Bering Sea, and the Aleutians.
Light snow is now arriving to the Kuskokwim Delta Coast this
evening as the tail end of a shortwave clips the area. The rest
of Southwest remains quiet through tonight. A low pressure
currently developing over the Central Aleutians gathers strength
tonight. This low and its front track to the Southwest coast, in
the vicinity of Bristol and Kuskokwim Bays, by Saturday morning.
With the combination of cold air in place, a tight pressure
gradient, and strong off-shore winds, a Blizzard Warning has been
issued for areas west of Dillingham tomorrow morning through noon
time. Conditions should improve during the afternoon as winds
begin to diminish and temperatures warm. A Winter Weather Advisory
for snow and blowing snow has been issued for the Kuskokwim Delta
Saturday morning into the evening hours. Lower visibilities could
be prolonged into Sunday for Nunivak Island due to persistent
strong northwest flow on the backside of the low discussed
previously, as well as with additional shortwaves dropping
southward through the flow. Snow and blowing snow is also possible
for the southern Alaska Peninsula (AKPEN) Saturday morning behind
the low. More snow is possible on Sunday for the Southern AKPEN
with strong cold air advection and support from the upper levels.
Sunday stays unsettled for mainland Southwest with more shortwaves
coming ashore from the Bering helping to keep snow showers going,
especially over the Kuskokwim Delta and Lower Kuskokwim Valley.
Meanwhile, snow showers continue for the Bering and Aleutian Chain
through Sunday. A strong front enters the Western Bering Sunday
and moves to the Southern AKPEN by Monday evening. Rain and snow
will accompany the front as it moves west to east, with and
rain/snow mix transitioning back to snow behind the front as cold
air works back in. Stay tuned for forecast updates as the active
pattern continues!

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Tuesday through Friday)...

A broad upper level longwave trough extends across the Bering
into Western Interior Alaska through Wednesday. After midweek, a
strong shortwave reorients the longwave trough with greater
amplitude over Western Alaska into the weekend. However,
significant shortwaves will continue to rotate across the Southern
periphery of the longwave through the entire forecast period. The
Aleutians and Bering into Southwest Alaska will have locally
heavy showery precipitation, beginning as snow, but becoming mixed
as the lows moves across the Bering. Areas of Easterly gale force
winds accompany the front over the Bering, with Westerly gales
along and over the Aleutians and Alaska Peninsula, diminishing
Thursday. A North Pacific low brings in another front and the next
round of precipitation and winds to the Western Aleutians for
Thursday and Friday.

Low centers developing along the front South of the Alaska
Peninsula continue their Eastward trek into the Gulf of Alaska
through Friday. Some gusty winds spread over the Gulf, with
locally heavy precipitation starting as snow, but changing along
the coast and Eastern Prince William Sound accompanying the warmer
air intrusion ahead of the Gulf low through Friday. Kodiak Island
will have mixed rain and snow. Southcentral coastal areas start
with snow, but change to rain, with areas of snow further inland.
Significant accumulations from Prince William Sound and East are
expected. Interior areas will remain snow.

Kutz

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...Heavy snow with LIFR CIGs and Visibility will end abruptly
this evening as the heavy snow area moves north and east of PANC,
however low stratus, areas of fog and scattered snow showers will
continue into the night. Expect mainly MVFR conditions for CIGS
and Visibility with occasional IFR condition as snow showers move
over the terminal tonight and mainly MVFR conditions tomorrow
morning and into early afternoon before another round of snow with
LIFR CIGS and Visibility pushes over PANC in the afternoon.

&&

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
National Weather Service ANCHORAGE AK
444 AM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

AKZ161-170800-
Bristol Bay-
Including the cities of King Salmon, Dillingham, Naknek,
and Pilot Point
444 AM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

...ELEVATED WATER LEVELS POSSIBLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING
ALONG THE NORTHERN BRISTOL BAY COAST INCLUDING NUSHAGAK BAY...

Gale force south to southwesterly winds will increase through
Saturday evening as a strong storm system moves from the eastern
Bering to Bristol Bay. The strong winds will result in elevated
water levels with the potential for water pushing up through
cracks in the ice and ice pushing up on shore along south and west
facing shorelines. The greatest chance for elevated water levels
and potential ice shoves is expected to be along the Northern
Bristol Bay coast between Togiak and Naknek. Water levels will
rise above normal highest tide early Saturday afternoon and
subside Saturday night.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
National Weather Service ANCHORAGE AK
446 AM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

AKZ161-170800-
Bristol Bay-
Including the cities of King Salmon, Dillingham, Naknek,
and Pilot Point
446 AM AKST Sat Dec 16 2023

...ELEVATED WATER LEVELS POSSIBLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING
ALONG THE NORTHERN BRISTOL BAY COAST INCLUDING NUSHAGAK BAY...

Gale force south to southwesterly winds will increase through
Saturday evening as a strong storm system moves from the eastern
Bering to Bristol Bay. The strong winds will result in elevated
water levels with the potential for water pushing up through
cracks in the ice and ice pushing up on shore along south and west
facing shorelines. The greatest chance for elevated water levels
and potential ice shoves is expected to be along the Northern
Bristol Bay coast between Togiak and Naknek.

Water levels are expected to rise above normal highest tide
by early Saturday afternoon with the highest water levels
expected Saturday evening before slowly subsiding late Saturday
night. residents with interests along the coast should move items
well above the normal high tide line.