Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2008

Gale Warning 4, NWS Juneau, AK

January 14, 2008

NWS Juneau, AK issued this gale warning at Jan 14, 2008, 11:00 AM 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
Jan 14, 2008, 11:00 AM AKST (20:00 UTC)
Expired
Jan 16, 2008, 11:00 AM AKST
In force
48 hr
Issued by
NWS Juneau, AK

The text

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

000 
FZAK67 PAJK 150030
OFFAJK

OFFSHORE FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA EAST OF 144 WEST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
400 PM AST MON JAN 14 2008 

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ398-151400-
.SYNOPSIS FOR GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 NORTH AND EAST OF
144 WEST...
A LOW IN THE NORTHWESTERN GULF PUSHES A FRONT INTO THE EASTERN
GULF EARLY TUESDAY AND THROUGH THE PANHANDLE BY WEDNESDAY. 

$$

PKZ310-151400-
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST-
400 PM AST MON JAN 14 2008 

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND TUESDAY...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW IN THE
EVENING...THEN RAIN.
.TUE...SW WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...SW GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.WED...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 19 FT. SW SWELL. 
.THU...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SW SWELL. RAIN.
.FRI...NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$
4 follow-up statements
000 
FZAK67 PAJK 151230
OFFAJK

OFFSHORE FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA EAST OF 144 WEST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
400 AM AST TUE JAN 15 2008 

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ398-160100-
.SYNOPSIS FOR GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 NORTH AND EAST OF
144 WEST...
A LOW IN THE NORTHWESTERN GULF PUSHES A FRONT INTO THE EASTERN
GULF TUESDAY AND THROUGH THE PANHANDLE BY WEDNESDAY. 

$$

PKZ310-160100-
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST-
400 AM AST TUE JAN 15 2008 

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 12 TO 17 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 21 FT.  
.WED...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...W WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT. SW SWELL. 
.THU...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. SW SWELL. RAIN.
.FRI...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$
000 
FZAK67 PAJK 160018
OFFAJK
OFFSHORE FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA EAST OF 144 WEST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
400 PM AST TUE JAN 15 2008 

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ398-161400-
.SYNOPSIS FOR GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 NORTH AND EAST OF
144 WEST...
A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE ONTO THE GULF COAST TUE EVENING. A SECOND
WARM FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE EASTERN GULF THU AFTERNOON. A
LOW WILL DEVELOP OFF ICY CAPE TO 1002 MB FRI MORNING. 
$$

PKZ310-161400-
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST-
400 PM AST TUE JAN 15 2008 

...GALE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. RAIN LATE. 
.WED...SW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT.  
.WED NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT. SW SWELL. 
.THU AND THU NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. SW SWELL.
.FRI...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SAT AND SUN...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
$$
000 
FZAK67 PAJK 161237
OFFAJK

OFFSHORE FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA EAST OF 144 WEST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
400 AM AST WED JAN 16 2008 

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ398-170100-
.SYNOPSIS FOR GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 NORTH AND EAST OF
144 WEST...
A LOW IN THE NORTHWESTERN GULF PUSHES A FRONT INTO THE PANHANDLE
WEDNESDAY. CONTINUED STRONG SW FLOW OVER THE OFF SHORE WILL
BUILD A LARGE SEA OVER THE GULF.  A SECOND LOW MOVES INTO THE
NORTHERN GULF THURSDAY NIGHT. 

$$

PKZ310-170100-
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST-
400 AM AST WED JAN 16 2008 

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SW WIND 25 TO 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 25 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 21 FT. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 18 FT. SW SWELL. RAIN LATE. 
.THU...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. RAIN.
.THU NIGHT...SW GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.FRI...NW GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$
000 
FZAK67 PAJK 162316
OFFAJK

OFFSHORE FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA EAST OF 144 WEST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
400 PM AST WED JAN 16 2008 

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ398-171400-
.SYNOPSIS FOR GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 NORTH AND EAST OF
144 WEST...
STRONG SW FLOW OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL BUILD A LARGE SWELL
OVER THE GULF. A NEW LOW MOVES INTO THE NORTHERN GULF THURSDAY
WHILE THE FRONTAL BAND MOVES INTO SOUTHEAST ALASKA.
$$

PKZ310-171400-
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST-
400 PM AST WED JAN 16 2008 

.TONIGHT...SW WIND TO 20 KT. SEAS 18 FT. W SWELL. RAIN LATE. 
.THU...S WIND TO 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SW SWELL. RAIN. 
.THU NIGHT...SW GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN.
.FRI...W GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. SW SWELL. 
.SUN...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 20 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 Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Jan 14, 6:00 AM AKST, 5 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 14, 6:00 AM AKST, 5 hours before
SOUTHEAST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
1100 AM AST MON JAN 14 2008

.SYNOPSIS...
.SHORT RANGE...THE LOW FROM YESTERDAY IS NOW ENTERING THE
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES WITH A WEAK TROUGH EXTENDING ACROSS THE
NORTHERN PANHANDLE INTO THE NORTHEAST GULF OF ALASKA. A VORTICITY
LOBE/TROUGH IS SLIDING EAST SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN PANHANDLE THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON.  NUMEROUS SNOW
SHOWERS (DUE TO THE COLD AIR THAT HAS MOVED IN BEHIND THE FRONT)
OVER THE EASTERN GULF THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO THE
PANHANDLE REGION THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.... EXCEPTION
TO THIS IS WEST OF YAKUTAT THAT IS IN THE CLEAR AS THE BACK EDGE
OF SHOWERS IS IN THE VICINITY OF YAKUTAT BAY.

SURFACE RIDGE OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA IS MOVING EAST TO THE
EASTERN GULF AND WILL BE SUPPRESSED ON THE NORTH PORTION OF THE
GULF AS AS THE FRONTAL BAND MOVES OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF
ALASKA. THE SURFACE LOW ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FRONT IS OVER THE
CENTRAL ALEUTIANS AND WILL BE TRACKING NORTHEAST TO TOWARDS THE
SEWARD PENINSULA. PRECIPITATION SHOULD START OUT AS SNOW ACROSS
THE REGION MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY AHEAD OF THE WARM FRONT. AM
EXPECTING SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW INTO TUESDAY AFTERNOON...SO
EXPECT THAT I MAY BE ISSUING SEVERAL SNOW ADVISORIES FOR THE
NORTHERN HALF OF THE PANHANDLE AT LEAST ZONES 017>022..AND 25
WITH THE AFTERNOON ISSUANCE.

THERE IS A LARGE PUSH OF WARM AIR WITH THIS SYSTEM TO THAT WILL
BE MOVING ACROSS THE GULF AND INTO THE LAND AREAS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SO SNOW SHOULD CHANGE OVER TO RAIN DURING
THE AFTERNOON...AND THEN INCREASE IN INTENSITY (PRECIPITATION
RATES) AS THERE IS SUB TROPICAL SOURCE REGION FOR THE MOISTURE.

SHOULD SEE THE WINDS AHEAD OF THE WARM FRONT INCREASE UP TO A
SOUTHEAST TO EAST GALE OVER THE OFF SHORE AND THEN COASTAL AREAS
OVER THE NORTHERN GULF...THEN BECOME A SOUTHWEST GALE ESPECIALLY
OVER THE OFFSHORE ZONE... AND PROBABLY PUSHING INTO THE COASTAL
AREAS NORTH AND WEST OF CROSS SOUND WITH SMALL CRAFTS FOR THE
REST OF THE OUTER COASTAL AND SOME OF THE INNER CHANNEL REGIONS.

.LONG RANGE...THE EXTENDED RANGE FORECAST PERIOD BEGINS WITH A
TRANSITION FROM A SIGNIFICANT SNOW EVENT TO A SIGNIFICANT RAIN
EVENT ACROSS THE PANHANDLE. MODEL 6-HOURLY RAIN RATES OF ANYWHERE
FROM 1/4 INCH TO NEARLY 1 1/2 INCHES IN NORTHERN COASTAL
LOCATIONS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE SMALL STREAM AND URBAN
FLOODING AS THE RAIN COMBINES WITH MELTING SNOW AND RUNS OFF THE
FROZEN GROUND. ONSHORE FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO GENERATE SMALL CRAFT
SOUTHWESTERLIES IN THE COASTAL MARINE ZONES WITH GALES POSSIBLY
EXPANDING SOUTH FROM CROSS SOUND TO CAPE EDGECUMBE. BY
WEDNESDAY...WHAT IS LEFT OF THE COLD FRONT WILL BE DISSIPATING
RAPIDLY AS IT WORKS ITS WAY SOUTH DOWN THE PANHANDLE AND A HIGH
PRESSURE RIDGE BUILDS IN BRIEFLY OVER SEAK.

THE NEXT SYSTEM TO AFFECT THE PANHANDLE WILL ARRIVE THURSDAY AS A
FRONT MOVES IN FROM THE SOUTHWEST AND TRACKS NORTHEAST. THIS
SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BE A RAIN EVENT FROM THE BEGINNING FOR MOST
LOCATIONS SOUTH OF ICY STRAIT AND THE REMAINDER OF LOCATIONS
CHANGING TO RAIN THURSDAY MORNING. THE ASSOCIATED LOW IS
PROJECTED TO BE SOUTHWEST OF KODIAK AT THIS TIME AND WITH SO MUCH
DISTANCE BETWEEN THE THE LOW CENTER AND THE PANHANDLE THE FRONT
IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE PARTICULARLY STRONG. THE LOW ITSELF IS
FORECAST TO SKIRT ALONG THE SOUTH COAST AND INTO THE YUKON
THURSDAY NIGHT. WHEN IT DOES...A SIGNIFICANT SOUTHERLY PRESSURE
GRADIENT WILL SET UP OVER THE PANHANDLE AND THE NORTH-SOUTH
ORIENTED INNER CHANNELS WILL LIKELY SEE GALES NORTH OF ICY STRAIT
AND STRONG SMALL CRAFT WINDS SOUTH OF THERE.

A WAVE WHICH DEVELOPS WELL TO THE SOUTH ON THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY
OF THE THURSDAY SYSTEM WILL TRACK NORTHEAST TO THE EASTERN GULF
LATE IN THE WEEK OR EARLY WEEKEND. FAIR TO GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT
THAT SOME SORT OF LOW PRESSURE DISTURBANCE AND ASSOCIATED FRONTAL
BOUNDARY WILL AFFECT SEAK THIS COMING WEEKEND BUT THE STRENGTH OF
THIS SYSTEM AND LOCATION OF THE ASSOCIATED FRONT IS VERY
UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME AND FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS CORRESPONDING
LOW.

.AJK...WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
PUBLIC...NONE AT THIS TIME SEE SHORT
MARINE...GALE PKZ051
      ...SMALL CRAFT PKZ031-034-036-041>043-051-052

BMB/FCF

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jan 14, 10:59 AM AKST, 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
359 PM AST MON JAN 14 2008

AKZ017>029-151500-
CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO CAPE SUCKLING COASTAL AREA-
TAIYA INLET AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAY-HAINES BOROUGH AND LYNN CANAL-
GLACIER BAY-EASTERN CHICHAGOF ISLAND-
SALISBURY SOUND TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER COASTAL AREA-
CAPE DECISION TO SALISBURY SOUND COASTAL AREA-
EASTERN BARANOF ISLAND AND SOUTHERN ADMIRALTY ISLAND-
JUNEAU BOROUGH AND NORTHERN ADMIRALTY ISLAND-
INNER CHANNELS FROM KUPREANOF ISLAND TO ETOLIN ISLAND-
DIXON ENTRANCE TO CAPE DECISION COASTAL AREA-
SOUTHERN INNER CHANNELS-MISTY FJORDS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...YAKUTAT...SKAGWAY...HAINES...GUSTAVUS...
HOONAH...ELFIN COVE...PELICAN...SITKA...PORT ALEXANDER...ANGOON...
JUNEAU...PETERSBURG...WRANGELL...KAKE...CRAIG...KLAWOCK...
KETCHIKAN...METLAKATLA...HYDER
359 PM AST MON JAN 14 2008

...SNOW AND HEAVY RAINS MAY MAKE PRESENT A LOCAL FLOODING HAZARD...

A WEATHER FRONT APPROACHING SOUTHEAST ALASKA FROM THE WEST ON MONDAY
NIGHT WILL BRING WITH IT A LARGE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE FROM THE
TROPICS. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN FALLING MONDAY NIGHT.
ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES ARE EXPECTED IN MOST SOUTHEAST
ALASKA LOCATIONS BEFORE CHANGING TO RAIN TUESDAY AFTERNOON. RAIN
WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES OVER PORTIONS OF THE PANHANDLE AND...WHEN
COMBINED WITH THE RESULTING SNOW MELT ON TOP OF FROZEN
GROUND...WILL MAKE SMALL STREAM AND URBAN FLOODING POSSIBLE.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER SIGNIFICANT STANDING WATER...CONTACT YOUR LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE OR THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL
WEATHER NEWS SOURCE FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

FCF

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 13, 3:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAJK8 hr
Jan 13, 7:39 PM AKSTWind AdvisoryAJK8 hr
Jan 13, 11:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAJK24 hr
Jan 13, 11:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK4 days
Jan 13, 11:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK60 hr
Jan 14, 10:38 AM AKSTSnow AdvisoryAJK49 hr
Jan 14, 11:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK12 hr
Jan 14, 11:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK4 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.