Gale Warning 786, NWS Anchorage, AK

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 181248
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST THU DEC 18 2008

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-190300-
400 AM AKST THU DEC 18 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
HIGH PRESSURE PERSISTS OVER THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GULF OF
ALASKA THROUGH THU NIGHT. A WEATHER FRONT MOVES INTO THE WESTERN
GULF LATE THU NIGHT AND FRI.
$$

PKZ351-190300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST THU DEC 18 2008

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. RAIN.
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-190300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM AKST THU DEC 18 2008

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN.
.FRI...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SUN...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 190100
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST THU DEC 18 2008

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-191500-
400 PM AKST THU DEC 18 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
HIGH PRESSURE PERSISTS OVER THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GULF OF
ALASKA THROUGH FRI. A WEATHER FRONT MOVES INTO THE WESTERN GULF
TONIGHT AND REMAINS THROUGH FRI.

$$

PKZ351-191500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKST THU DEC 18 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO SE 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. 
SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. RAIN.
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...E WIND 45 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-191500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKST THU DEC 18 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT THIS EVENING. SEAS 9 FT
BUILDING TO 15 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN. 
.FRI...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN.
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SUN...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 191250
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST FRI DEC 19 2008

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-200300-
400 AM AKST FRI DEC 19 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
COMPLEX LOW PRESSURE PERSISTS OVER THE SOUTHERN GULF THROUGH SAT
NIGHT.
$$

PKZ351-200300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST FRI DEC 19 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SUN...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-200300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM AKST FRI DEC 19 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT BECOMING E 40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
16 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...E WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
21 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SUN...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 200058
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 19 2008

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-201500-
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 19 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
COMPLEX LOW PRESSURE WILL PERSIST OVER THE SOUTHERN GULF THROUGH SAT
NIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE WESTERN GULF SUN.

$$

PKZ351-201500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 19 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING TO NE 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 18 FT. 
.SUN...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...VARIABLE WINDS LESS THAN 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.WED...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-201500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 19 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 30 KT INCREASING TO 40 KT THIS EVENING. SEAS 15 FT.
RAIN. 
.SAT...NE WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO E 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
SEAS 20 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SUN...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.WED...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 201250
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 20 2008

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-210300-
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 20 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 1000 MB LOW AT 55N 145W THIS MORNING REMAINS NEARLY STATIONARY
THROUGH SAT NIGHT THEN DISSIPATES. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE
WESTERN GULF SUN AND SUN NIGHT.
$$

PKZ351-210300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 20 2008

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT BECOMING NE 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
15 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-210300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 20 2008

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...NE WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...E WIND 30 KT BECOMING NE 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
15 FT. 
.SUN...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 210059
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 20 2008

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-211500-
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 20 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 1003 MB LOW NEAR 55N 147W WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST AND DISSIPATE SAT
NIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE WESTERN GULF SUN.

$$

PKZ351-211500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 20 2008

.TONIGHT...E WIND 30 KT BECOMING NE 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. 
SEAS 17 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 50 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-211500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 20 2008

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO NE 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. 
SEAS 18 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 50 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 211247
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST SUN DEC 21 2008

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-220300-
400 AM AKST SUN DEC 21 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE WESTERN GULF THROUGH SUNDAY. A 
1002 MB LOW WILL DEVELOP NEAR 60N 149W MONDAY AFTERNOON AND REMAIN
STATIONARY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. 

$$

PKZ351-220300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST SUN DEC 21 2008

.TODAY...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TONIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 50 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-220300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM AKST SUN DEC 21 2008

.TODAY...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 50 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 23 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
300 PM AKST WED DEC 17 2008

.MODEL DISCUSSION...MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH EACH OTHER
THROUGH 60 HOURS. THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THE SOLUTION CONTINUES
TO CHANGE WITH THE RUNS SO THE MODEL CONSISTENCY IS NOT WHAT ONE
WOULD HOPE FOR. THE OVERALL TREND HAD BEEN TO BREAK DOWN THE RIDGE IN
THE BERING SEA FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. PREVIOUS RUNS HAD IT
STRONGLY POSITIONED IN THE CENTRAL TO EASTERN BERING SEA AT THAT
TIME. THE SUCCESSIVE RUNS ON THE GFS HAVE BEEN FORCING IT FARTHER TO
THE SOUTH. OF THE MAJOR MODELS THE ECMWF LOOKS TO BE THE MOST
CONSISTENT.

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...THE UPPER LEVEL PATTERN HAS A WARM RIDGE
EXTENDING FROM THE GULF OF ALASKA THROUGH THE CENTRAL PART OF THE
STATE TO THE ARCTIC COAST. THE RIDGE WILL TRY TO HOLD FAST BUT WILL
BE PUSHED EASTWARD BY FRIDAY. IN THE WEST THERE IS A CUT OFF UPPER
LEVEL LOW OVER THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS THAT WILL MOVE EASTWARD OVER THE
NEXT FEW DAYS. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN AGAIN BEHIND THIS LOW BUT
THE RIDGE WILL NOT BE AS STRONG AS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. THE JET STREAM
WILL REMAIN SOUTH OF THE AREA THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

THE SURFACE LOW IN THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS WILL SLOWLY MOVE
SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH FRIDAY BRINGING IN COLDER AIR TO THE EASTERN
ALEUTIANS AND EVENTUALLY THE ALASKA PENINSULA. HIGH PRESSURE WILL
REDEVELOP IN THE INTERIOR OF THE STATE AND HELP PUSH THIS LOW SOUTH
OF THE AREA RELEGATING MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION WITH IT TO THE
COASTAL AREAS AS IT MOVES INTO THE GULF OF ALASKA.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE DOMINANT FORM OF
PRECIPITATION IN THE BRISTOL BAY REGION UNTIL THURSDAY NIGHT. THERE
IS USUALLY CONCERN ABOUT FREEZING RAIN IN THE DILLINGHAM AREA WITH
THIS SORT OF PATTERN BUT THE POTENTIAL LOOKS WEAK AT THIS TIME. THE
WINDS IN DILLINGHAM REMAINED NORTH ALL NIGHT AND THE TEMPERATURE
REMAINED ABOVE FREEZING SO THERE IS EVIDENTLY NOT A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF COLD AIR AVAILABLE TO PRODUCE FREEZING RAIN. FREEZING RAIN
IS A POSSIBILITY IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE KUSKOKWIM VALLEY AS
THERE IS COLDER AIR AT THE SURFACE.
THE WARM AIR IS FIRMLY OVER THE EASTERN BERING SEA REGION WITH
TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S STRETCHING FROM BRISTOL BAY TO
THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS AND NORTH PAST NUNIVAK ISLAND.

BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING IN THE
CENTRAL ALEUTIANS. THE LOW IN THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS WILL MOVE SLOWLY
SOUTHEASTWARD AND BRING SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW IN THE COLD ADVECTION
AND STRONG WINDS ON ITS WEST SIDE.

FOG IN THE NORTHERN COOK INLET REGION SHOULD DIMINISH AS MID LEVEL
CLOUDS MOVE INTO THE AREA OVERNIGHT.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...MILD AND PROGRESSIVE WESTERLY FLOW APPEARS TO
SET UP FOR THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD 187.
MARINE...GALE 130 170 171 175 176.
         STORM 172.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

DEC 08