Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2008

Gale Warning 795, NWS Anchorage, AK

December 26, 2008

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Dec 26, 2008, 4:00 PM AKST. It was in force for 48 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
Dec 26, 2008, 4:00 PM AKST (01:00 UTC)
Expired
Dec 28, 2008, 4:00 PM AKST
In force
48 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

000 
FZAK61 PAFC 270057
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 26 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.

PKZ399-271500-
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 26 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 968 MB LOW NEAR 59N 140W WILL SLOWLY WEAKEN TO 988 MB AND DRIFT TO
55N 138W SUN AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ351-271500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 26 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 24 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING
SPRAY.
.SAT...NW WIND 3O TO 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 17 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SUN...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.MON...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-271500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 26 2008

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 26 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SAT...W WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 22 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.SUN...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$
4 follow-up statements
457 
FZAK61 PAFC 271217
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 27 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.

PKZ399-280300-
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 27 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 978 MB LOW NEAR 59N 143W WILL WEAKEN TO 995 MB AND MOVE TO NEAR 
55N 136W BY MON MORNING. A 999 MB LOW WILL DEVELOP NEAR 57N 146W 
SUN EVENING.
$$

PKZ351-280300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 27 2008

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...W TO NW WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 20 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...NE TO NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-280300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 27 2008

...GALE WARNING TODAY AND SUNDAY...

.TODAY...W TO NW WIND 35 TO 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 TO 35 KT 
IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 24 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...NE TO NW WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...NE TO NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE AND WED...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$
233 
FZAK61 PAFC 280010
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 27 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.

PKZ399-281500-
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 27 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 982 MB LOW NEAR 59N 147W WILL MOVE TO 55N 147W SUN MORNING AND THEN
DISSIPATE. A 989 MB LOW NEAR 56N 137W SUN AFTERNOON WILL REMAIN
NEARLY STATIONARY THROUGH MON AFTERNOON. A 1003 MB LOW WILL DEVELOP
NEAR 57N 149W MON AFTERNOON.
$$

PKZ351-281500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 27 2008

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.MON...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-281500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 27 2008

...GALE WARNING SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. SNOW.
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$
793 
FZAK61 PAFC 281221
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST SUN DEC 28 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.

PKZ399-290300-
400 AM AKST SUN DEC 28 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 988 MB LOW NEAR 54N 144W WILL DRIFT EASTWARD SUN NIGHT WITH 
LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH AND THEN WEAKEN TO 1003 MB NEAR 56N 137W
MON NIGHT. A 1003 MB LOW WILL DEVELOP NEAR 57N 149W MON MORNING 
AND DRIFT TO NEAR 55N 153W MON NIGHT WHILE WEAKENING TO 1007 MB. 
A 1008 MB LOW WILL DEVELOP NEAR 58N 145W MON NIGHT WITH LITTLE
MOVEMENT.
$$

PKZ351-290300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST SUN DEC 28 2008

.TODAY...NE TO NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.MON...NE WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
SEAS 8 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE THROUGH THU...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 

$$

PKZ352-290300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST SUN DEC 28 2008

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...NE TO NW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...NE TO NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.MON...NE TO NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT BECOMING VARIABLE IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 9 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.MON NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$
698 
FZAK61 PAFC 290006
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST SUN DEC 28 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.

PKZ399-291500-
400 PM AKST SUN DEC 28 2008
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 988 MB LOW NEAR 55N 141W WILL MOVE TO 55N 136W AND WEAKEN TO 1002
MB TUESDAY MORNING. WEAK LOW PRESSURE WILL THEN CONTINUE OVER THE
GULF OF ALASKA THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 
$$

PKZ351-291500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKST SUN DEC 28 2008

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...E WIND 25 KT BECOMING SE 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 8 FT.
SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. SNOW.
.TUE THROUGH THU...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-291500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKST SUN DEC 28 2008

.TONIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NW WIND 20 KT BECOMING SW IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 FT. SNOW.
FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. SNOW.
.TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT AND WED...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  
.THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 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 Dec 26, 3:00 PM AKST, 1 hour earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 26, 3:00 PM AKST, 1 hour before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
300 PM AKST FRI DEC 26 2008

.MODEL DISCUSSION...MODELS ARE DOING WELL WITH THE WEATHER PATTERN
BECOMING MORE SETTLED. NOT REAL CONCERNS INTO NEXT WEEK WITH THE
MODELS.

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...THE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN IS BEGINNING
TO SETTLE DOWN INTO A MORE STABLE ONE. THE UPPER LEVEL AND SURFACE
HIGH OVER THE BERING SEA WILL REMAIN IN PLACE INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT
WEEK. AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE AND
INTO THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHEAST ALASKA BY SUNDAY
WHILE THE STRONG SURFACE LOW JUST A LITTLE SOUTH OF YAKUTAT WILL
SLOWLY WEAKEN AND DRIFT SOUTHEAST OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
THE MAIN PART OF THE JET STREAM WILL REMAIN SOUTH OF THE AREA BUT A
JET STREAK BETWEEN THE BERING SEA HIGH AND GULF LOW WILL BE PRESENT
OVER THE EASTERN BERING SEA AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA THROUGH SUNDAY
NIGHT.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...THE MAJOR FORECAST ISSUE FOR ALL AREAS WILL BE
WIND. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT IS QUITE TIGHT OVER MUCH OF THE STATE AND
WINDS ALONG THE NORTH GULF COAST AND KODIAK ISLAND ARE ESPECIALLY
STRONG. THESE WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH OVERNIGHT AND THROUGH SATURDAY AS
THE LOW IN THE GULF WEAKENS.
THE NORTHWEST FLOW OVER THE BERING SEA IS ALSO CONDUCIVE FOR SNOW
SHOWERS ALONG THE ALASKA PENINSULA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. THERE IS A
SHORT WAVE MOVING ACROSS THE ALASKA PENINSULA THIS AFTERNOON AND IT
WILL BRING BRIEF PERIODS OF NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. THESE ARE NOT
EXPECTED TO BE LONG LIVED SO A BLIZZARD WARNING IS NOT EXPECTED AT
THIS TIME.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...COLD AND BREEZY.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WARNING 125 131. HIGH WIND WARNING 171.
MARINE...GALE 120 121 129 141 155 160 165 170 171 175 176 179 180.
         STORM 130 132 138 140 150.
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 121 129 130 132 138 140 141 150 160 165
                              180 185.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

DEC 08

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 26, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Dec 26, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC36 hr
Dec 26, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Dec 26, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC5 days
Dec 26, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC5 days
Dec 26, 4:00 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC24 hr
Dec 27, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Dec 27, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC60 hr
Dec 27, 4:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC45 min
Dec 27, 4:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC4 days
Dec 27, 4:45 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC11 hr
Dec 27, 10:22 AM AKSTWind Chill AdvisoryAFC7 days
Dec 27, 1:34 PM AKSTBlizzard WarningAFC31 hr

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.