Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2008

Gale Warning 128, NWS Anchorage, AK

February 9, 2008

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Feb 9, 2008, 11:00 AM AKST. It was in force for 24 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
Feb 9, 2008, 11:00 AM AKST (20:00 UTC)
Expired
Feb 10, 2008, 11:00 AM AKST
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
FZAK62 PAFC 100001
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AST SAT FEB 9 2008

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.

PKZ499-101500-
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

EASTERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE IN THE BERING THROUGH MON AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-101500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AST SAT FEB 9 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. 
.SUN...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. SNOW.
.MON...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.WED THROUGH THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 

$$

PKZ412-101500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AST SAT FEB 9 2008

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SNOW.
.SUN...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-101500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AST SAT FEB 9 2008

...GALE WARNING SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SUN...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. SNOW.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-101500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AST SAT FEB 9 2008

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

.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE THROUGH WED...NE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
FZAK62 PAFC 101246
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AST SUN FEB 10 2008

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.

PKZ499-110300-
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 968 MB LOW NEAR 50N 177E WILL WEAKEN TO 984 MB AND MOVE TO 50N 175W
BY MONDAY MORNING.  IT WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY AND THEN
DISSIPATE BY TUESDAY.  EASTERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE IN THE BERING
THROUGH OUT THE PERIOD.
$$

PKZ411-110300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AST SUN FEB 10 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY...

.TODAY...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.MON...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 19 FT. SNOW.
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-110300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AST SUN FEB 10 2008

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING MONDAY...

.TODAY...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-110300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AST SUN FEB 10 2008

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. SNOW.
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-110300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AST SUN FEB 10 2008

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT AND MONDAY...

.TODAY...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT AND MON...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$
000 
FZAK62 PAFC 110000
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AST SUN FEB 10 2008

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.

PKZ499-111500-
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 974 MB LOW NEAR 49N 179E WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY AND WEAKEN
TO 986 MB MON AFTERNOON THEN DISSIPATE MON NIGHT. A 982 MB LOW OVER
THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC WILL STRENGTHEN TO 951 MB NEAR 46N 167W TUE
AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-111500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AST SUN FEB 10 2008

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 17 FT. SNOW.
.MON...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SNOW.
.MON NIGHT THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-111500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AST SUN FEB 10 2008

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU THROUGH FRI...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-111500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AST SUN FEB 10 2008

.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW.
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-111500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AST SUN FEB 10 2008

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT THROUGH WED...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Feb 9, 12:00 AM AKST, 11 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 9, 12:00 AM AKST, 11 hours before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
500 AM AST SAT FEB 9 2008

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
MODELS LOOK GOOD IN THE SHORT TERM OUT WEST THIS EVENING BUT ARE LESS
RELIABLE IN THE EAST.  COMPARISON WITH SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES
THAT NONE OF THE 00Z RUNS ARE INITIALIZING WELL ON THE LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM CURRENTLY SOUTH OF DUTCH HARBOR.  NAM AND ECMWF ARE HINTING AT
THE TRIPLE POINT LOW THAT IS CURRENTLY FORMING BUT GFS HAS NOT PICKED
UP ON THIS FEATURE AT ALL. ALL OF THE MODELS ARE HIGHLY VARIABLE ON
WHICH LOW CENTER WILL DEVELOP AND WHERE IT WILL GO...THOUGH WITH THE
UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVING TO THE WEST THIS WILL PROBABLY CAUSE A MORE
WESTERLY TRACK.  LITTLE CHANGE WAS MADE TO THE CURRENT FORECAST FOR
CONTINUITY REASONS. IN THE LONG TERM...THE MODEL SOLUTIONS ARE PRETTY
VARIABLE.  GFS WANTS TO SPLIT THE LOW OUT WEST INTO SEVERAL CENTERS
AND MOVE THE LOW IN THE EAST ON A DIFFERENT TRACK...THIS IS A CHANGE
FROM THE 12Z SOLUTION WHICH WAS SHOWING BETTER CONTINUITY.  SO IN THE
LONGTERM THE 12Z SOLUTION WAS CHOSEN.

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
AS FORECAST YESTERDAY THE UPPER LEVEL LOW HAS MOVED FROM THE WESTERN
YUKON OVER MAINLAND ALASKA THIS MORNING. SOUTHWEST FLOW CONTINUES IN
THE GULF WITH THE MAIN JET CURRENTLY OVER THE PANHANDLE.  AS THE LOW
CONTINUES TO MOVE WESTWARD THROUGH TODAY THE MAIN POLAR JET WILL ALSO
MOVE WESTWARD AND BECOME MORE SOUTHERLY AS WELL. THIS WILL ALLOW THE
SURFACE SYSTEMS TO MOVE ONSHORE NEAR CORDOVA AND BRING MORE PRECIP TO
THE SOUTHCENTRAL REGION.  IN THE SATELLITE IMAGERY THIS MORNING A
SURFACE LOW SOUTH OF DUTCH HARBOR HAS ALREADY DEVELOPED A SECONDARY
LOW TO ITS EAST...THIS FEATURE WAS NOT WELL HANDLED BY MODELS SO THE
FORECAST IS A LITTLE UNCERTAIN AT THIS POINT.  HOWEVER THE SECONDARY
LOW HAS THE BENEFIT OF THE UPPER LEVEL JET SUPPORT SO IT WILL
PROBABLY CONTINUE THE NORTHEASTWARD TRACK WHILE THE PRIMARY LOW
SLOWLY FILLS BEHIND IT.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
EAST OF THE ALASKA RANGE...GUSTY WINDS CONTINUE IN CHANNELED AREAS
CAUSING WIND CHILL ADVISORY CONDITIONS THROUGH BROAD PASS AND
THOMPSON PASS. BY TOMORROW TEMPERATURES SHOULD BEGIN TO RISE WITH THE
APPROACH OF THE NEXT LOW AND THE RETURN OF SOUTHERLY FLOW.  THIS WILL
ALSO BRING SNOW TO THE GULF COAST AND A CHANCE FOR SNOW TO THE INLAND
ZONES. AMOUNTS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO REACH ADVISORY LEVEL AT THIS
POINT.

WEST OF THE ALASKA RANGE...WIND CHILL ADVISORIES ALSO CONTINUE OUT
WEST AS GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS OCCUR AHEAD OF THE LOW.  THE FIRST
CHANCE FOR SNOW HAPPENS MONDAY NIGHT WHEN WRAP AROUND MOISTURE BEGINS
TO MOVE INTO THE KUSKOKWIM VALLEY AND ON INTO THE DELTA BY TUESDAY
MORNING. IN THE ALEUTIANS THE WEAK LOW CURRENTLY OVER THE WESTERN
ALEUTIANS WILL DISSIPATE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS...BUT ITS NEARLY
STATIONARY LOCATION WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE SHOWERY AND UNSTABLE
CONDITIONS FOR THE ALEUTIANS THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...
UNCERTAINTY IS VERY HIGH RIGHT NOW WITH THE MODEL RUNS SO VARIABLE.
HOWEVER MODELS CONTINUE TO FAVOR A MORE WESTERLY TRACK TO IT APPEARS
THAT A SNOWY FORECAST FOR THE MAINLAND IS MORE LIKELY. TEMPERATURES
ALSO APPEAR TO CONTINUE WITH THE WARMING TREND THROUGH THE END OF THE
WEEK.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE
MARINE...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 121 125 129 140 185 412 414
         GALES 411 412 413
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

LEWF FEB 08

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 8, 3:00 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC32 hr
Feb 8, 4:30 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC19 hr
Feb 8, 11:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Feb 8, 11:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC48 hr
Feb 8, 11:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC3 days
Feb 8, 11:00 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC12 hr
Feb 8, 11:00 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC12 hr
Feb 8, 11:52 PM AKSTWind Chill AdvisoryAFC57 hr
Feb 9, 3:20 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC8 hr
Feb 9, 11:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Feb 9, 11:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Feb 9, 11:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC36 hr
Feb 9, 11:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Feb 9, 11:00 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC5 days
Feb 9, 11:05 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC3 days

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2008Every gale warning in 2008

Sources

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