Gale Warning 247, NWS Anchorage, AK

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 190623 AAA
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM ADT TUE MAR 18 2008

UPDATED ALL ZONES

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.

PKZ399-191400-
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 994 MB LOW JUST SOUTH OF THE KENAI PENINSULA MOVES INLAND AND
WEAKENS WEDNESDAY. A 1001 MB LOW NEAR 51N 153W TONIGHT MOVES TO 54N
141W AT 983 MB WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS CENTER THEN MOVES TO 56N 143W AT
985 MB THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ351-191400-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM ADT TUE MAR 18 2008

.TONIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 50 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 50 KT. SEAS 23 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-191400-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM ADT TUE MAR 18 2008

...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.FRI...NE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SAT...NE WIND 50 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 191138
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM ADT WED MAR 19 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.

PKZ399-200200-
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 992 MB LOW NEAR 60N 149W WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY AND
DISSIPATE WED NIGHT. A 1002 MB LOW NEAR 52N 152W WILL STRENGTHEN TO
983 MB NEAR 54N 143W WED NIGHT. THIS LOW WILL THEN WEAKEN TO 990 MB
NEAR 58N 144W THU NIGHT.
$$

PKZ351-200200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM ADT WED MAR 19 2008

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 15 KT BECOMING NE 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 7 FT.
SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU NIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.FRI AND SAT...E WIND 50 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  
$$

PKZ352-200200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM ADT WED MAR 19 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT AND THU...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY.
.THU NIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.FRI AND SAT...NE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  
$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 192306
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM ADT WED MAR 19 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.

PKZ399-201400-
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 996 MB LOW NEAR SEWARD WEAKENS. A 988 MB LOW NEAR 53N 144W MOVES TO
58N 149W AT 993 MB FRIDAY. A 995 MB LOW NEAR 50N 157W THURSDAY
AFTERNOON MOVES TO 54N 145W AT 978 MB FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ351-201400-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM ADT WED MAR 19 2008

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
BUILDING TO 14 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.THU NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT BECOMING SW AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 45 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-201400-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM ADT WED MAR 19 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU NIGHT...W WIND 30 KT BECOMING SW 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SAT...NE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.SUN AND MON...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 201132
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM ADT THU MAR 20 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.

PKZ399-210200-
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 1002 MB LOW NEAR 59N 149W WILL DISSIPATE THU MORNING. A 985 MB LOW
NEAR 54N 142W WILL WEAKEN TO 991 MB NEAR 58N 142W THU NIGHT AND
DISSIPATE. A 1006 MB LOW NEAR 50N 167W WILL STRENGTHEN TO 979 MB
NEAR 57N 149W FRI NIGHT.
$$

PKZ351-210200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM ADT THU MAR 20 2008

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
10 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT BECOMING SE 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
13 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. 
.FRI...SE WIND 25 KT BECOMING E 40 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 16 FT.
RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 50 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  
$$

PKZ352-210200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM ADT THU MAR 20 2008

.TODAY...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SAT...NE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  
$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
200 PM ADT MON MAR 17 2008

.ANALYSIS...
LARGE SURFACE LOW IN THE GULF OF ALASKA WITH ANOTHER LOW WEST OF
SHEMYA THIS AFTERNOON. A STRONG JET FEEDING THE LOW WEST OF SHEMYA
THIS AFTERNOON AND SHOULD PUSH IT RATHER QUICKLY THROUGH THE
ALEUTIANS TOMORROW. THIS LOW TO WRAP AROUND THE GULF LOW AND COMBINE
INTO A LARGE LOW THURSDAY. MEANWHILE...THE CURRENT GULF LOW TO MOVE
ONSHORE OVER THE KENAI PENINSULA TOMORROW AND WEAKEN THROUGH
WEDNESDAY.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
GREAT RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY WITH THE GFS THIS MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY. THESE ARE IN LINE WITH THE 12Z ECMWF AND THE GFS ENSEMBLE
MEAN. HOWEVER...THE ECMWF SWINGS A LOW IN THE GULF ON WEDNESDAY TOO
FAST BACK TO BRISTOL BAY. THE GFS ON THE OTHER HAND IS SLOWER AND THE
LOW REMAINS IN THE GULF AND COMBINES WITH ANOTHER LOW ON FRIDAY. THE
ECMWF AND GFS ARE SIMILAR AT THIS POINT. AFTER THIS POINT...SOME
LARGE DIFFERENCES APPEAR. THE CURRENT RUN OF THE GFS AND THE 00Z RUNS
OF THE ECMWF AND GFS HAD A LOW TRAVELING ACROSS THE WESTERN BERING
AND ALEUTIAN CHAIN SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY AND DIVING TO THE GULF
LOW.

OVERALL...MEAN TROUGH REMAINS OVER ALASKA THROUGH THE NEXT WEEK.

.UPPER LEVELS...
BROAD TROUGH OVER THE MAINLAND TODAY WITH A RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN
BERING. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW NEAR BETHEL TO SLIP INTO THE GULF TOMORROW
AND BRING COLDER AIR ACROSS KODIAK AND SUPPORT THE LOW IN THE GULF
FURTHER. IN THE MEANTIME...A SHORT WAVE TROUGH RIDING A JET CORE FROM
THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS TO THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS TO MOVE FROM SHEMYA
THIS AFTERNOON TO SOUTH OF COLD BAY TOMORROW AFTERNOON. THIS WAVE TO
DIVE INTO THE GULF AND MEET WITH THE GULF LOW WEDNESDAY AND WRAP
AROUND THE GULF THURSDAY. ANOTHER SHORT WAVE TO WRAP INTO THIS SYSTEM
AS WELL THURSDAY/FRIDAY.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
ALEUTIANS AND BERING...
STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW OVER THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN BERING. COMBINED
WITH SNOW SHOWERS...AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW REDUCING VISIBILITIES.
THESE CONDITIONS TO REMAIN THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. FURTHER
WEST...A LOW WEST OF SHEMYA TO SLIDE THROUGH THE ALEUTIANS TONIGHT
AND TOMORROW. ANOTHER LOW TO FOLLOW THE SAME PATH WEDNESDAY. BOTH
LOWS FEED INTO THE MEAN GULF LOW.

WESTERN ALASKA...
LOW IN THE GULF COMBINED WITH MEAN HIGH IN THE WESTERN BERING
CREATING MODERATE NORTHWEST FLOW OVER WESTERN ALASKA. AN UPPER LOW
OVER THE AREA CREATING CONCENTRATED AREAS OF SNOW. COMBINED WITH THE
WINDS...BLOWING SNOW HAS REDUCED VISIBILITIES ALONG THE COASTAL
LOCATIONS. FURTHER INLAND...SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS PREVAIL. THESE
CONDITIONS THROUGH TONIGHT. THE ACTIVITY THEN TURNS MORE SHOWERY AS
VORT MAX AFTER VORT MAX ROTATE AROUND THE MEAN TROUGH INLAND OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE DAYS.

SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA...
LOW IN THE NORTHERN GULF BRINGING SNOW TO THE EASTERN SOUND AND
COPPER RIVER BASIN. DRIER NORTHWEST FLOW WEST OF THAT KEEPING SNOW
FROM SPREADING WEST. THE LOW TO MOVE INLAND NEAR SEWARD TONIGHT WITH
SOME SNOW WORKING TO THE WESTERN SOUND AND OVER THE EASTERN KENAI
PENINSULA. AS THE FLOW TURNS MORE EASTERLY ALOFT TOMORROW AND
TOMORROW NIGHT...SNOW SHOWERS WILL WORK OVER THE KENAI MOUNTAINS AND
INTO THE WESTERN KENAI. SOME OF THESE SHOWERS MAY MOVE INTO THE
ANCHORAGE AREA AS WELL. MODERATE NORTHWEST FLOW OVER THE SOUTHERN AND
WESTERN GULF...TO KEEP SHOWERS AND COLDER AIR THERE. FREEZING SPRAY
COULD BECOME A PROBLEM IN SHELIKOF AND THE BARREN ISLANDS. THIS LOW
TO WEAKEN WEDNESDAY AS ANOTHER LOW WRAPS UP THE EASTERN GULF AROUND
TO KODIAK THURSDAY. YET ANOTHER LOW FEEDS INTO THE SOUTHERN GULF
FRIDAY.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...
ANCHOR LOW IN THE GULF WITH HIGH PRESSURE GENERALLY OVER THE WESTERN
BERING. THIS WOULD MEAN A COLD MAINLAND AIR MASS WITH A ANCHOR LOW IN
THE GULF AND HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS. MODERATE TO
STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW OVER THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN BERING CAN BE
EXPECTED THROUGH THIS TIME FRAME.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WARNING ZONE 181
MARINE...GALE 130 150 155 165
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 150 155 160 165 179 185
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

JN MAR 08

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1113 PM ADT MON MAR 17 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0256 AM     BLIZZARD         KING COVE               55.06N 162.30W
03/17/2008                                      AK   ASOS

            BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WERE MET FROM 3AM THROUGH NOON TODAY
            IN KING COVE AND THE COLD BAY AREA. VISIBILITY DROPPED
            WELL BELOW 1/4 MILE AND WINDS PEAKED AT OVER 70 MPH.

&&

SSHEA