Alert archive / Alaska / High Wind Warnings in 2023

High Wind Warning 7, NWS Juneau, AK

October 12, 2023Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Sitka City and Borough, Alaska

NWS Juneau, AK issued this high wind warning at Oct 12, 2023, 3:59 AM AKDT for Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Sitka City and Borough, Alaska. It took effect at Oct 12, 2023, 11:00 AM AKDT. It was in force for 11 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 12, 2023, 3:59 AM AKDT (11:59 UTC)
In effect from
Oct 12, 2023, 11:00 AM AKDT
Expired
Oct 12, 2023, 10:00 PM AKDT
In force
11 hr
Issued by
NWS Juneau, AK

Counties Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, AK, Sitka City and Borough, AK

The radar

The Sitka radar (PACG), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:59 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Anette Island, AK (PANN), launched 00:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 216 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Anette Island, AK at 00:00Z on 2023-10-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Anette Island, AK at 00:00Z on 2023-10-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -6 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1130 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-6 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
37 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

968 
WWAK77 PAJK 121159
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
359 AM AKDT Thu Oct 12 2023

AKZ323-327-122000-
/O.UPG.PAJK.HW.A.0003.231012T2300Z-231013T0800Z/
/O.NEW.PAJK.HW.W.0007.231012T1900Z-231013T0400Z/
City and Borough of Sitka-
Western Kupreanof Island and Kuiu Island-
Including the cities of Sitka, Kake, and Port Alexander
359 AM AKDT Thu Oct 12 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM
AKDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...City and Borough of Sitka and Western Kupreanof Island 
  and Kuiu Island.

* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 8 PM AKDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$

AKZ328-122000-
/O.UPG.PAJK.HW.A.0003.231012T1900Z-231013T0200Z/
/O.NEW.PAJK.HW.W.0007.231012T1900Z-231013T0400Z/
Prince of Wales Island-
Including the cities of Craig, Klawock, Hydaburg, Coffman Cove, 
and Thorne Bay
359 AM AKDT Thu Oct 12 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM
AKDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph 
  expected.

* WHERE...Prince of Wales Island, mainly with western coastal
  communities.

* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 8 PM AKDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/ajk
3 follow-up statements
046 
WWAK77 PAJK 121934
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
1134 AM AKDT Thu Oct 12 2023

AKZ323-327-328-130345-
/O.CON.PAJK.HW.W.0007.000000T0000Z-231013T0400Z/
City and Borough of Sitka-
Western Kupreanof Island and Kuiu Island-Prince of Wales Island-
Including the cities of Sitka, Kake, Port Alexander, Craig, 
Klawock, Hydaburg, Coffman Cove, and Thorne Bay
1134 AM AKDT Thu Oct 12 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

* WHERE...City and Borough of Sitka, Western Kupreanof Island 
  and Kuiu Island and Prince of Wales Island.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM AKDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines.
  Widespread power outages are possible. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/ajk
412 
WWAK77 PAJK 130353
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
753 PM AKDT Thu Oct 12 2023

AKZ323-327-328-130600-
/O.EXT.PAJK.HW.W.0007.000000T0000Z-231013T0600Z/
City and Borough of Sitka-
Western Kupreanof Island and Kuiu Island-Prince of Wales Island-
Including the cities of Sitka, Kake, Port Alexander, Craig, 
Klawock, Hydaburg, Coffman Cove, and Thorne Bay
753 PM AKDT Thu Oct 12 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Southeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

* WHERE...City and Borough of Sitka, Western Kupreanof Island 
  and Kuiu Island and Prince of Wales Island.

* WHEN...Until 10 PM AKDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. 
  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be 
  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.

&&

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/ajk
011 
WWAK77 PAJK 130600
NPWAJK

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Juneau AK
1000 PM AKDT Thu Oct 12 2023

AKZ323-327-328-130700-
/O.EXP.PAJK.HW.W.0007.000000T0000Z-231013T0600Z/
City and Borough of Sitka-
Western Kupreanof Island and Kuiu Island-Prince of Wales Island-
Including the cities of Sitka, Kake, Port Alexander, Craig, 
Klawock, Hydaburg, Coffman Cove, and Thorne Bay
1000 PM AKDT Thu Oct 12 2023

...HIGH WIND WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM AKDT THIS EVENING...

Winds have diminished but will remain elevated. Gusts up to 45 
mph will persist through early tomorrow morning.

$$

For more information from the National Weather Service visit
https://weather.gov/ajk

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this high wind warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this high wind warning went out at Oct 11, 10:52 PM AKDT, 5 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 11, 10:52 PM AKDT, 5 hours 7 minutes before
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
1052 PM AKDT Wed Oct 11 2023

.UPDATE...Satellite imagery shows low pressure approaching 140W
late Wed evening. Latest surface analysis indicates pressure of
986mb. Models in good agreement with this low continuing to deepen
as it pushes into the SE gulf Thu. Latest guidance supports
earlier timing for increase winds along with stronger winds along
POW. Expanded high wind watch to include POW and adjusted for
earlier timing.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION......ISSUED AT ...257 PM AKDT Wed Oct 11...

SHORT TERM...Pretty much as expected, with the exception of the
pesky low clouds and patchy light rains for the eastern zones, we
are getting the break in widespread precipitation and wind across
the Alaska Panhandle today. Unfortunately that break is short
lived as we see yet another gulf low moving up along 135W Thursday
bringing periods of heavy rain and wind to the region Thursday
into Thursday night. Strongest winds are expected for portions of
western Baranof Island Thursday afternoon and evening, where we
currently have a High Wind Watch posted. We expect periods of
strong winds 20-30 mph gusts to 50 mph) for some locations across
the central panhandle Thursday afternoon and evening as well. Over
the coastal and offshore waters, we expect solid gale force winds
over the eastern GulfAK Thursday into Thursday night with 25-30kt
winds over most inside waters with some of the longer fetch
channels getting gusts around 40 kts at times. We will have Small
Craft Advisories for the inside waters Thursday into Thursday
night as well, but a few of the longer fetch and exposed waters
could end up being updated to Gale Warnings as well...so stay
tuned to the latest forecast.

As for heavy rainfall, the main areas where we raised our rainfall
amounts totaling 2 to 3 inches Thursday morning to Friday morning
will be from Sitka east to Juneau and northward with some of the
higher amounts expected over the northern Panhandle from Gustavus
to Haines. We are expecting rises on many of our central and
northern Panhandle rivers by Friday morning, although mostly rises
to or slightly over bankfull expected with no significant
flooding anticipated at this time.

The low tracks fairly close to 135W through Thursday night slowly
weakening as it goes north of 58N early Friday morning.

LONG TERM.../Friday into early next week/...
Quick Hits:
-Storm system late Friday into Saturday looks to bring another round
of gale force winds to the coast.
-Inner channel winds expected to increase as the low moves through
the gulf.
-Land area wind gusts likely to reach 30-40 mph with evidence of
some southern areas seeing higher gusts.
-Sunday into next week, confidence in the forecast lowers due to
wide spread in next system's track and strength.

The Details:
Looking at the overall setup, a digging trough aloft
will set up multiple waves moving up from the south over the course
of the forecast period.

For late Friday into Saturday - good enough agreement between ENS
and deterministic models, and guidance from the WPC, that winds
up to 35 knots in the gulf felt needed. Inner channels are around
15 to 20 knots, these might need to be updated once access to hi-
res models becomes available.

Precip will be fading out or moving out of the area on Friday
with the next quick hit of rain expected with the next low Friday
night into Saturday. Amounts don't look too impressive with 24
hour amounts around 0.50 to 1 inch.

Sunday into next week has lowered confidence. GEFS and EURO ENS are
averaging an area of low pressure near the southwest gulf but
deterministic are hinting at embedded, quick-moving lows spinning
around the parent low. These smaller lows can have quite the
impact as they track through the area so be sure to stay plugged
into the forecast for the latest updates.

&&

.AVIATION...Lingering fog and low stratus early in the day lifted
for most locations and VFR conditions for the evening. Next gale
force front tracks in by Thursday morning with increasing rain
fall, increasing and lowering cloud cover and ceilings, increasing
surface winds and developing LLWS. Conditions dropping to MVFR to
IFR by mid morning but SE LLWS with speeds nearing 40 to 50 kt
will be main impact into Thursday evening. Heaviest rainfall will
be over the northern half of the panhandle. Improving weather with
decreasing winds, LLWS, and rain rates into Friday afternoon.

&&

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...High Wind Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening
     for AKZ323-327.
     High Wind Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon
     for AKZ328.
     Strong Wind Thursday afternoon for AKZ328.
     Strong Wind Thursday afternoon for AKZ329.
     Small Craft Advisory from 6 AM to 6 PM AKDT Thursday for AKZ330.
MARINE...Gale Warning for PKZ641>644-661>664-671.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ012-013-021-022-031>036-651-652-672.

&&

SHORT TERM...JG
LONG TERM....GJS
AVIATION...PRB

Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau

The office that day

Everything else NWS Juneau, AK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 12, 3:46 AM AKDTGale WarningAJK24 hr
Oct 12, 3:46 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK59 hr
Oct 12, 3:47 AM AKDTGale WarningAJK18 hr
Oct 12, 3:47 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK18 hr
Oct 12, 9:30 AM AKDTFlood WatchAJKHaines, Skagway Municipality25 hr
Oct 12, 3:27 PM AKDTGale WarningAJK12 hr

Nearby

High Wind Warnings in Alaska, 2023Every high wind warning in 2023

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.