Gale Warning 72, NWS Anchorage, AK

Issued

Jan 7, 2007, 7:30 AM AKST (16:30 UTC)

Expired

Jan 7, 2007, 6:00 AM AKST

In force

Issued by

NWS Anchorage, AK

000 
FZAK51 PAFC 070931 AAE
CWFAER

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE ALASKA
1230 PM AST SUN JAN 7 2007

UPDATED ZONES 140 AND 141.

MARINE FORECAST FOR THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA COAST
UP TO 100 NM OUT INCLUDING KODIAK ISLAND
AND COOK INLET

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ197-071500-
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST+KODIAK ISLAND WATERS+
COOK INLET...
A 1000 MB LOW 40 NM NORTH OF MIDDLETON ISLAND WILL REMAIN NEARLY
STATIONARY THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING THEN MOVE TO 160 NM SOUTH OF
YAKUTAT AND WEAKEN TO 1011 MB MON AFTERNOON. A 980 MB LOW 540 NM
SOUTH OF MIDDLETON ISLAND WILL MOVE INLAND NEAR KETCHIKAN SAT NIGHT.

$$

PKZ120-071500-
CAPE SUCKLING TO GORE POINT
515 PM AST SAT JAN 6 2007

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 15 KT. HIGHER GUSTS WEST OF CAPE HINCHINBROOK.
SEAS 8 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...NW WIND 20 KT. HIGHER GUSTS WEST OF CAPE HINCHINBROOK. 
SEAS 8 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SEAS 9 FT. 
SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  

$$

PKZ121-071500-
RESURRECTION BAY
400 PM AST SAT JAN 6 2007

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 15 KT WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SEAS 3 FT. 
FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN...N WIND 15 KT WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SEAS 3 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN NIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON THROUGH TUE...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.WED AND THU...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 

$$

PKZ125-071500-
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
515 PM AST SAT JAN 6 2007

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. HIGHER GUSTS THROUGH WESTERN BAYS AND
PASSES. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN...NW WIND 20 KT. HIGHER GUSTS THROUGH WESTERN BAYS AND PASSES.
SEAS 3 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SEAS 4 FT. SNOW. 
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.WED...VARIABLE WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ129-071500-
PASSAGE CANAL
515 PM AST SAT JAN 6 2007

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SEAS 4 FT. 
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON THROUGH TUE...VARIABLE WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.WED AND THU...VARIABLE WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 

$$

PKZ130-071500-
BARREN ISLANDS AND KAMISHAK BAY WATERS
1030 PM AST SAT JAN 6 2007

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT...EXCEPT NW WIND 35 KT NORTHWEST OF THE
BARRENS. SEAS 10 FT...EXCEPT SEAS 16 FT NORTHWEST OF THE BARRENS.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT...EXCEPT W WIND 35 KT NORTHWEST 
OF THE BARREN ISLANDS. SEAS 14 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT.  

$$

PKZ132-071500-
SHUYAK ISLAND TO SITKINAK
655 PM AST SAT JAN 6 2007

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED AND THU...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 

$$

PKZ138-071500-
SHELIKOF STRAIT
400 PM AST SAT JAN 6 2007

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO W 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.WED AND THU...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 

$$

PKZ140-071500-
COOK INLET NORTH OF KAMISHAK BAY AND ENGLISH BAY
1230 AM AST SUN JAN 7 2007

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...
...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT...EXCEPT W WIND 35 KT S OF KALGIN ISLAND.
SEAS 11 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. SNOW SHOWERS. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. 
.TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. 
.WED AND THU...VARIABLE WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS.

$$

PKZ141-071500-
KACHEMAK BAY
1230 AM AST SUN JAN 7 2007

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...
...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 8 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.WED AND THU...VARIABLE WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 

$$

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Jan 6, 11:10 PM AKST, 8 hours 20 minutes earlier.

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
410 AM AST SUN JAN 7 2007

.DISCUSSION...

...SUMMARY...
THIS MORNING...LOW PRESSURE IS PRESENT OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF
ALASKA WITH ANOTHER MUCH LARGER LOW OUT WEST TOWARD THE KAMCHATKA
PENINSULA. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE IS SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN. A WEAK
LOW PRESSURE IS PUNCHING THROUGH THE RIDGE IN THE EASTERN BERING SEA
THIS MORNING. GENERALLY QUIET AND VERY COLD WEATHER IS PRESENT OVER
THE MAINLAND THIS MORNING. THE WEAK LOW PRESSURE OVER THE EASTERN
BERING IS BRINGING SOME SNOW SHOWERS AND FAIRLY GUSTY WINDS FROM THE
FAR EASTERN ALEUTIANS TO PORTIONS OF THE BRISTOL BAY COAST. THE BIG
WEATHER MAKER...HOWEVER...IS A VERY STRONG FRONT OVER THE
CENTRAL/WESTERN BERING AND ALEUTIANS TODAY MOVING WELL OUT AHEAD OF
THE PARENT LOW OFF THE SOUTH TIP OF THE KAMCHATKA. HEAVY SNOW/RAIN
CHANGING TO RAIN...ALONG WITH VERY STRONG WINDS...ARE PRESENT WITH
THIS FRONT.

THE FRONT OVER THE BERING AND ALEUTIANS INDICATES THE ONSET TO A
MAJOR PATTERN CHANGE ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE. AS THIS FRONT MOVES EAST
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS...IT WILL BRING A MUCH WARMER AIRMASS TO THE
ENTIRE REGION. THE PARENT UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL REMAIN OUT TOWARD
KAMCHATKA...WITH A RIDGE OVER EASTERN ALASKA. THIS MEANS WARM AND
VERY MOIST SOUTHWEST TO SOUTH FLOW SETTING UP OVER THE ENTIRE
FORECAST AREA BY LATE WEDNESDAY.

...MODELS...
MODELS ARE IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT AND HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH THE
SIGNIFICANT FEATURES...INCLUDING THE MAJOR FRONT PROGRESSING EAST
THROUGH THE BERING AND ALEUTIANS. THUS...THERE IS HIGHER THAN NORMAL
CONFIDENCE IN THE FORECAST WE ARE PUTTING OUT THIS MORNING. MAIN
CHALLENGE WILL BE PRECIPITATION TYPE...AS RAIN VS SNOW AND CHANGEOVER
WILL BE AN ISSUE FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA OVER
THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

...SOUTHCENTRAL FORECAST SOUTH AND EAST OF THE ALASKA RANGE...
SURFACE LOW PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF IS BRINGING SOME SNOW
SHOWERS AROUND CORDOVA TODAY. THIS ACTIVITY WILL DISSIPATE BY TONIGHT
AS THE LOW DISSIPATES AS IT MOVES EAST. OVERALL...A QUIET DAY IS IN
STORE TODAY OVER SOUTHCENTRAL...WITH DRY AND VERY COLD OFFSHORE FLOW.
LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH GAPS IN THE TERRAIN. VERY
SIMILAR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TUESDAY. MANY AREAS WILL SEE THEIR
FIRST REAL SUNSHINE IN A WHILE FOR TODAY AND TUESDAY. THE BIG CHANGES
THEN ENSUE BEGINNING WEDNESDAY AS THE FLOW SWITCHES TO ONSHORE AND
THE FIRST IN A LIKELY BARRAGE OF SYSTEMS MOVES IN. EXPECT MILD
TEMPERATURES AND PERIODS OF SNOW...MIXED WITH RAIN AT TIMES OVER
COASTAL AREAS...FROM WEDNESDAY INTO NEXT WEEKEND AND POSSIBLY LONGER.

...SOUTHWEST MAINLAND FORECAST...
GENERALLY QUIET AND VERY COLD WEATHER TO PERSIST THROUGH TUESDAY
MORNING WITH SOME LOW CLOUDS ALONG THE COAST AND AREAS OF ICE FOG. AN
EXCEPTION IS A WEAK SHORTWAVE MOVING THROUGH THE RIDGE...BRINGING A
QUICK SHOT OF SNOW THIS MORNING TO THE ALASKA PENINSULA. THE BIG
CHANGES ENSUE BEGINNING TUESDAY AFTERNOON...AS THE STRONG FRONT
MARCHING ACROSS THE BERING BEGINS TO BRING SNOW AND STRONG WIND TO
THE WEST COAST. THE PRECIPITATION WILL SPREAD INLAND TO MCGRATH BY
MIDDAY WEDNESDAY. EXPECT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF SNOW WITH THE FRONT
ALONG WITH TEMPERATURES RISING SIGNIFICANTLY. RAIN COULD EVEN MIX IN
TOWARD LATE WEDNESDAY ALONG PORTIONS OF THE COAST. WINDS WILL BE
QUITE STRONG...ESPECIALLY TOWARD THE COAST...AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
ARE CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY. UNSETTLED WEATHER AND MILD TEMPERATURES
TO CONTINUE OVER THE SOUTHWEST MAINLAND THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

...BERING SEA/ALEUTIAN FORECAST...
A STRONG FRONT IS BRINGING HIGH WINDS AND SNOW CHANGING TO RAIN
ACROSS THE WESTERN/CENTRAL ALEUTIANS AND BERING TODAY. THIS FRONT
WILL MARCH EAST TO THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS/BERING TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY.
ONCE THIS FRONT MOVES THROUGH...EXPECT MILD TEMPERATURES WITH
UNSETTLED SOUTHWEST FLOW AND PERIODS OF SNOW AND RAIN THROUGH NEXT
WEEKEND.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WARNING 195.
         HIGH WIND WARNING 187.
         BLIZZARD WATCH 155.
MARINE...STORM WARNINGS 172 175 410.
         GALE WARNINGS 121 130 155 160 165 170 171 176 179 180 185
         350.
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNINGS 120 121 125 129 130 132 138
         140 141 150 160 350 410.

FOISY JAN 07

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2007Every gale warning in 2007

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.