Gale Warning 241, NWS Anchorage, AK

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 142324
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM ADT FRI MAR 14 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.

PKZ399-151400-
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A LOW PRESSURE TROUGH OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA WEAKENS FRIDAY
EVENING AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OVER THE GULF. A WEATHER FRONT
APPROACHES KODIAK ISLAND FRI NIGHT THEN MOVES TO THE CENTRAL GULF AS
A 990 MB LOW DEVELOPS NEAR 57N 145W SAT NIGHT. THIS LOW WILL THEN
MOVE TO 59N 143W SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
$$

PKZ351-151400-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM ADT FRI MAR 14 2008

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT BECOMING S 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
5 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 12 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT BECOMING W 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
13 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-151400-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM ADT FRI MAR 14 2008

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT BECOMING S 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 9 FT.
.SAT...S WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
SEAS 13 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 151109
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM ADT SAT MAR 15 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.

PKZ399-160200-
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A WEATHER FRONT OVER KODIAK ISLAND MOVES TO THE NORTHERN GULF SAT
NIGHT AS A 988 MB LOW DEVELOPS NEAR 56N 142W. THIS LOW INTENSIFIES 
TO 985 MB AS IT MOVES TO NEAR 59N 141W SUN AFTERNOON THEN REMAINS
NEARLY STATIONARY. 

$$

PKZ351-160200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM ADT SAT MAR 15 2008

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 10 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. RAIN. 
.SUN...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT AND MON...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-160200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM ADT SAT MAR 15 2008

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 14 FT. RAIN. 
.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN. 
.SUN...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON THROUGH WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 152350
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM ADT SAT MAR 15 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.

PKZ399-161400-
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 1000 MB LOW NEAR 57N 149W MOVES EAST AND DISSIPATES TONIGHT. A 992
MB LOW NEAR 52N 149W THIS EVENING MOVES TO 58N 138W AT 982 MB SUNDAY
AFTERNOON. THIS LOW THEN MOVES INLAND AND WEAKENS. A 988 MB LOW NEAR
55N 159W SUNDAY AFTERNOON MOVES TO 58N 145W AT 990 MB MONDAY
AFTERNOON. 
$$

PKZ351-161400-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM ADT SAT MAR 15 2008

.TONIGHT...S WIND 30 KT BECOMING NW 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 12 FT.
RAIN.
.SUN...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON THROUGH TUE...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.THU...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-161400-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM ADT SAT MAR 15 2008

...GALE WARNING SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING TO SW 15 KT THIS EVENING. 
SEAS 15 FT. RAIN. 
.SUN...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON NIGHT AND TUE...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 161126
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM ADT SUN MAR 16 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.

PKZ399-170200-
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 984 MB LOW NEAR 56N 144W WILL MOVE INLAND NEAR 59N 138W SUNDAY
EVENING. A 985 MB LOW NEAR 54N 167W WILL MOVE TO 59N 142W AT 991 MB
MONDAY NIGHT. 

$$

PKZ351-170200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM ADT SUN MAR 16 2008

.TODAY...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT BECOMING W 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
SEAS 12 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON NIGHT THROUGH WED...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-170200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM ADT SUN MAR 16 2008

.TODAY...W WIND 15 KT INCREASING TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 12
FT. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.MON NIGHT AND TUE...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.WED AND THU...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
130 PM ADT THU MAR 13 2008

.MODEL DISCUSSION...GFS/ECMWF MODELS INITIALIZED WELL AND FORECASTS
ARE REASONABLE AND SIMILAR THROUGH SUN NIGHT. DIFFERENCES CREEP IN
BEYOND THIS POINT...BUT 12Z GFS IS FAIRLY CLOSE TO 00Z RUN. SO ALL
SAID...WILL BLEND CURRENT GRIDS WITH 12Z GFS. THE FINAL RESULT BEING
VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN THIS AFTERNOONS FORECAST PACKAGE.

.UPPER LEVELS...TROUGH OVER THE CENTRAL MAINLAND THIS MORNING MOVES
INTO CANADA FRI. A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE EASTERN BERING
SEA/WESTERN ALASKA TONIGHT AND MOVES OVER THE GULF AND CENTRAL
MAINLAND FRI NIGHT. THE RIDGE CONTINUES EASTWARD PROGRESS THROUGH THE
WEEKEND AS THE PRIMARY LOW CENTER SOUTH OF THE ALEUTIANS DEVELOPS AND
MOVES TO THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS SAT. STRONG SW JET SETS UP OVER THE
NORTH PACIFIC WELL SOUTH OF THE AK PEN AND PUSHES INTO THE GULF OF
ALASKA SAT AS THIS LOW CENTER PROGRESSES EAST SAT. SW JET AXIS PUSHES
SOUTH AND EAST SUN/MON AS LOW CENTER NEAR THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS SAT
MOVES TO THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA MON AND WEAKENS. HIGH PRESSURE
REBUILDS BETWEEN 170E-180W BY MON NIGHT AND EXTENDS FROM THE NORTH
PACIFIC TO OVER THE BERING SEA.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
.EAST...OFF SHORE FLOW WITH DRYING IS FINALLY SETTING UP OVER
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA. THIS HAS BROUGHT LONG AWAITED CLEARING SKIES.
PRESSURE GRADIENTS WILL INCREASE OVER SOUTHCENTRAL AND NORTH GULF
TONIGHT WITH TROUGH OVER THE GULF. THAT COMBINED WITH WEAK COLD
ADVECTION WILL PRODUCE GUSTY GAP/DRAINAGE WINDS OVER MUCH OF THE GULF
AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHCENTRAL THROUGH FRI MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE INTO
THE REGION IN ADVANCE OF APPROACHING FRONTAL SYSTEM FRI AFTERNOON.
EXPECT INCREASING CLOUDS OVER THE WESTERN GULF FRI AFTERNOON WITH
RAIN AND SNOW TO THE WESTERN GULF FRI NIGHT. A TRIPLE POINT WILL
LIKELY FORM NEAR KODIAK SAT MORNING. STRONG SW FLOW SETTING UP ALOFT
LIKELY TO CARRY THIS CENTER TO THE EASTERN GULF SUN MORNING. PRESSURE
GRADIENT LIKELY TO BUILD OVER SOUTHCENTRAL WITH APPROACH OF FRONTAL
TROUGH SAT...SO SHOULD SEE STRONG GAP WINDS...ESPECIALLY ALONG
TURNAGAIN ARM AND PORTAGE VALLEY.

.WEST...
MAIN LOW CENTER SOUTH OF THE ALEUTIANS MOVES TO THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS
FRI NIGHT. CENTER BECOMES STACKED WITH UPPER CENTER AND WEAKENS AS IT
EVENTUALLY ENDS UP IN THE GULF OF ALASKA MON. ASSOCIATED WEATHER
FRONT MOVES TO THE PRIBILOFS AND WESTERN AK PEN FRI AFTERNOON. FRONT
CONTINUES EAST PROGRESSION TO ALONG THE SW COAST AND KODIAK ISLAND
EARLY SAT. FRONT WEAKENS AS IT MOVES INTO THE INTERIOR SAT. BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS OVER THE PRIBILOFS STILL LOOK REASONABLE FOR BY 6PM
TODAY...IF NOT A LITTLE EARLIER. WILL LET BLIZZARD RUN INTO FRI...BUT
WILL HAVE TO REEVALUATE AS TEMPS MAY GET A LITTLE TOO WARM. BLIZZARD
WATCH FOR THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS LATE TONIGHT WILL BE A CLOSE CALL.
TEMPS CURRENTLY OVER THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS ARE ABOVE FREEZING. MODELS
STILL SHOWING WEAK COLD ADVECTION OVER THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS THROUGH
TONIGHT. NEXT CONCERN AREA WOULD BE BLOWING SNOW CONDITIONS ALONG THE
NORTH COAST OF BRISTOL BAY AND COASTAL SW AK WITH APPROACH FRONTAL
FRONT FRI NIGHT. STRATUS OVER SW ALASKA WILL HOLD THROUGH TONIGHT AND
START TO BREAK UP FRI WITH MIXING AHEAD OF BERING SEA FRONT.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WARNING 195. BLIZZARD WATCH 191
MARINE...STORM 176. GALES: 132 150 155 165 170 171 172 179 AND 185
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

RMC MAR 08