Episode 59
Navigating Hazardous Conditions: Gale Warnings Across the Great Lakes
The focal point of our discourse today revolves around the prevailing winter storm warnings and weather advisories that are significantly impacting various regions, particularly Alaska and parts of California. We delve into the details of these warnings, highlighting the hazardous conditions predicted in the Yukon, Kuskokwim region, and along the coastal areas. The National Weather Service has issued advisories due to high tides and heavy surf, which may result in coastal flooding and dangerous travel conditions. Furthermore, we will examine the implications of these weather patterns, including potential urban flash flooding in Louisiana and the continued caution required for mariners in affected waters. As we navigate through these critical updates, our primary objective remains to ensure the safety and preparedness of our listeners amidst these severe weather events.
Takeaways:
- The podcast episode provides a thorough analysis of winter storm warnings affecting multiple regions, including Alaska.
- Listeners should heed the National Weather Service advisories regarding coastal flooding in California's coastal regions.
- The episode emphasizes the importance of avoiding exposed waters due to hazardous marine conditions related to freezing spray.
- We discussed the potential for flash flooding in urban areas of southeast Louisiana due to impending rainfall this week.
- Winter weather advisories were mentioned for both Maine and North Dakota, necessitating caution for travelers.
- The episode concluded with a reminder to stay vigilant regarding the evolving weather conditions across the United States.
Sources
[NWS Fairbanks Winter Storm Warning | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?firewxzone=AKZ952&product1=Winter+Storm+Warning]
[NWS Alaska marine heavy freezing spray | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=Heavy+Freezing+Spray+Warning]
[NWS SF Bay Coastal Flood Advisory | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=mtr&wwa=coastal+flood+advisory]
[NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard Coastal Hazards | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=lox&wwa=all]
[USGS Ojai M2.9 | https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci41131303]
[NWS New Orleans/Baton Rouge briefing | https://www.weather.gov/lix/]
[NWS Caribou HWO incl. winter storm timing | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=car&wwa=hazardous+weather+outlook]
[NWS Gray/Portland WWA overview | https://www.weather.gov/gyx/]
[NWS Marquette marine gales & heavy freezing spray | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=Heavy+Freezing+Spray+Warning]
[NWS Billings Winter Weather Advisory (early a.m.) | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=mso&wwa=all]
[NWS Gray/Portland WWA overview | https://www.weather.gov/gyx/]
[NWS Gray winter page | https://www.weather.gov/gyx/winter]
[NWS Bismarck homepage update & WWA | https://www.weather.gov/bis/]
[NWS Bismarck WWA text | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=bis&wwa=all]
[NWS Marquette marine gales & heavy freezing spray,incl. WI waters | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=Heavy+Freezing+Spray+Warning]
[NWS Cheyenne WWA summary | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=cys&wwa=all]
[NWS Riverton WWA summary | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=riw&wwa=all]
Transcript
Good morning.
Speaker A: rd December: Speaker A:Alaska leads this morning.
Speaker A:Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories continue across the Yukon, Kuskokwim region and adjacent ranges today and marine forecasts keep heavy freezing spray warnings in effect for portions of the Bering and Chukchi waters.
Speaker A:Mariners should avoid exposed waters or remain in port farther south.
Speaker A:The National Weather Service maintains coastal flood and high surf advisories along parts of coastal California, including the San Francisco Bay shoreline and Ventura county beaches tied to high astronomical tides and persistent swell on the Great Lakes.
Speaker A:Gale warnings and heavy freezing spray warnings are up on Lake Superior through tonight with rapid ice accretion hazardous to vessels in New England overnight winter storm warnings taper this morning in parts of Maine and New Hampshire after several rounds of snow.
Speaker A:Lingering slick travel is possible.
Speaker A:No tropical cyclones are active in the Atlantic.
Speaker A:USGS also logged A minor magnitude 2.9 earthquake near Ojai, California overnight with no damage reports.
Speaker A:Let's run through the Alaska Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories remain in effect today for the lower Yukon, Inoko and Kuskokwim valleys and the Yukon Delta coast calling for additional light snow or mixed precipitation with gusts to 40 mph along the west and northwest coasts.
Speaker A:Marine gale and heavy freezing spray warnings continue today.
Speaker A:Forecasts call for 35 to 40 knot winds and hazardous ice accretion.
Speaker A:California Coastal flood and high surf advisories are in effect this morning along parts of the Central and Southern California coast.
Speaker A:The San Francisco Bay shoreline and North Bay interior valleys remain under a coastal flood advisory through Sunday afternoon.
Speaker A:Up to approximately 1.4ft of tidal inundation may affect low lying roads and parking lots near high tide.
Speaker A:Ventura county beaches remain under high surf advisory and a morning coastal flood advisory overnight.
Speaker A:USGS recorded a magnitude 2.9 near Ojai.
Speaker A:No impacts reported.
Speaker A:Louisiana NWS New Orleans highlights a late week soaker beginning late tonight into Thursday and Friday with a 70 to 90% chance of greater than 2 inches of rain in southeast Louisiana.
Speaker A:Isolated flash flooding is possible in urban or poor drainage areas.
Speaker A:Overnight winter storm warnings taper this morning across northern and eastern Maine.
Speaker A:Snow showers linger with slick roads during the commute.
Speaker A:Marine gale headlines continue along the down East Coast.
Speaker A:Use caution on exposed routes and bridges for Lake Superior gale warnings and heavy freezing spray warnings run today into early Thursday.
Speaker A:NWS Marquette warns of 25 to 40 knot northwest winds, six 14ft waves and rapid ice accretion that can impair vessel stability in systems.
Speaker A:Shore impacts are limited.
Speaker A:Montana Winter weather advisories continue early this morning over portions of the Beartooth and Red Lodge foothills and adjacent ranges.
Speaker A:Light, additional snow and gusty winds maintain slick travel in mountain corridors before gradual improvement later this morning.
Speaker A:New Hampshire Snow wanes this morning after overnight winter storm headlines.
Speaker A:Expect untreated roads to remain slick through mid morning, especially interior high terrain.
Speaker A:Coastal gale headlines persist offshore.
Speaker A:North Dakota Winter weather advisories extend to midday across parts of western and central North Dakota.
Speaker A:Lingering light snow and patchy blowing snow will keep rural roads slick before conditions improve this afternoon.
Speaker A:Wisconsin Lake Superior Nearshore and open waters remain under gale warnings today with heavy freezing spray tonight.
Speaker A:Wyoming High wind warnings ended late Tuesday, but winter weather advisories continue for the Snowy and Sierra Madre ranges through late morning with light additional accumulations and areas of blowing snow.
Speaker A:All other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
Speaker A:We'll keep watch on the late week Gulf rain and the Great Lakes marine hazards.
Speaker A:Stay safe.
Speaker A:Sources are in the show notes below.
