Alert archive / Alaska / Storm Warnings in 2009

Storm Warning 85, NWS Anchorage, AK

March 5, 2009

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this storm warning at Mar 5, 2009, 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
Mar 5, 2009, 4:00 PM AKST (01:00 UTC)
Expired
Mar 7, 2009, 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.

152 
FZAK62 PAFC 060038
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST THU MAR 5 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

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.

PKZ499-061500-
400 PM AKST THU MAR 5 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 985 MB LOW MOVES TO 45N 173E THU NIGHT AND THEN MOVES TO 51N 174W
SAT AFTERNOON.
$$

PKZ411-061500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST THU MAR 5 2009

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...NW WIND 25 KT BECOMING NE 40 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 12 FT.
SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 50 KT. SEAS 18 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...N WIND 50 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT AND SUN...N WIND 45 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-061500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST THU MAR 5 2009

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 45 KT BECOMING SW 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
17 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS SUBSIDING TO 11 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 14 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...E WIND 45 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-061500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST THU MAR 5 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 40 KT BECOMING S 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
21 FT SUBSIDING TO 15 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW.
.FRI...SE WIND 30 KT INCREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
13 FT. SNOW.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 15 FT. SNOW.
.SAT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON AND TUE...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 

$$

PKZ414-061500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST THU MAR 5 2009

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 22 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY.
.FRI...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS SUBSIDING TO 16 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 50 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON AND TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 

$$
4 follow-up statements
000 
FZAK62 PAFC 061253
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

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.

PKZ499-070300-
400 AM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 987 MB LOW AT 45N 175E MOVES TO 60N 177W LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AT 
976 MB AND WEAKENS AS IT MOVES INTO THE GULF OF ANADYR ON SUNDAY. A
996 MB LOW AT 50N 175E EARLY SUNDAY MORNING MOVES TO 52N 170W LATE
SUNDAY NIGHT AT 991 MB.

$$

PKZ411-070300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...

.TODAY...NE WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO 40 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 12
FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...NE WIND INCREASING TO 55 KT. SEAS 18 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...NE WIND 50 KT. SEAS 23 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-070300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...

.TODAY...SW WIND 25 KT BECOMING SE IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 14 FT.
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND INCREASING TO 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. SNOW. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.SAT...E WIND 45 KT. SEAS 18 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-070300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 30 KT INCREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
13 FT. SNOW.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 18 FT. PATCHY FOG. SNOW.
.SAT...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 

$$

PKZ414-070300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...SW WIND 35 KT BECOMING SE IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 16 FT. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 17 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$
000 
FZAK62 PAFC 070007
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

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.

PKZ499-071500-
400 PM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 987 MB LOW NEAR 46N 177E WILL MOVE TO NEAR 61N 179W AT 973 MB SUN
AFTERNOON. 

$$

PKZ411-071500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009

...STORM WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...WEST OF 177E...N WIND 45 TO 55 KT. SEAS 16 TO 20 FT.
PATCHY FOG. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. EAST OF 177E...EAST TO SOUTHEAST
WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 TO 16 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.SAT...WEST OF 177E...NW WIND 40 TO 50 KT. SEAS 18 TO 23 FT. SNOW
SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY. EAST OF 177E...NW TO NE WIND 20 TO 30 KT.
SEAS 7 TO 13 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY.
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 13 TO 20 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT AND MON...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-071500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 TO 17 FT. SNOW.
.SAT...NE TO SE WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 15 TO 19 FT. AREAS OF FOG.
SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 TO 19 FT. AREAS OF FOG.
SNOW.
.SUN...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE AND WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 

$$

PKZ413-071500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 16 FT. PATCHY FOG. SNOW.
.SAT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE TO S WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 16 TO 21 FT. AREAS OF
FOG. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SUN...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT AND MON...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE AND WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 

$$

PKZ414-071500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST FRI MAR 6 2009

...STORM WARNING SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SAT...SE WIND 40 TO 50 KT. SEAS 18 TO 28 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW AND
RAIN. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW AND RAIN.
.SUN...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 FT.  

$$
000 
FZAK62 PAFC 071219
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

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.

PKZ499-080300-
400 AM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 991 MB LOW NEAR 50N 179W INTENSIFIES TO 976 MB SUN NIGHT AS IT
MOVES TO 61N 178W. A NORTH PACIFIC LOW INTENSIFIES TO 990 MB SUN
AFTERNOON NEAR 51N 179W AND THEN DISSIPATES SUN NIGHT NEAR 55N 170W. 

$$

PKZ411-080300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...NW WIND 50 KT. SEAS 21 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 20 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT THROUGH MON...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-080300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E WIND 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW.
.SUN...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-080300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT BECOMING SW 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. AREAS OF 
FOG. SNOW AND RAIN.
.SUN...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 

$$

PKZ414-080300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 15 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW AND RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW AND RAIN.
.SUN...S WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
13 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$
000 
FZAK62 PAFC 080003
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

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.

PKZ499-081500-
400 PM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 983 MB LOW NEAR 56N 178W WILL MOVE TO 61N 180 AND DEEPEN TO 975 MB
SUN AFTERNOON. THIS LOW WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY THROUGH MON
AFTERNOON AND WEAKEN TO 984 MB. A NEW LOW WILL MOVE FROM THE
NORTHWEST PACIFIC TO 51N 179E SUNDAY AFTERNOON WITH A PRESSURE OF 
992 MB. THIS LOW WILL DEEPEN TO 987 MB AND MOVE TO 51N 170W MON. 

$$

PKZ411-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 13 TO 20 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN...NW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 21 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW. 
.SUN...EAST OF 177W...SE TO SW WIND 30 TO 40 KT . SEAS 14 TO 21 FT.
SNOW. WEST OF 177W...W WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
13 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...EAST OF 175W...SE TO S WIND 30 TO 40 KT. AREAS OF FOG.
SNOW. WEST OF 175W...W WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 17 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW.
.SUN...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON THROUGH TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.WED AND THU...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 

$$

PKZ414-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST SAT MAR 7 2009

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 15 TO 21 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW
AND RAIN. 
.SUN...S TO SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 15 FT. AREAS OF FOG. SNOW
AND RAIN. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. 
.MON THROUGH THU...S TO W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this storm 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 storm warning went out at Mar 5, 4:00 PM AKST, 0 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 5, 4:00 PM AKST, 0 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
400 PM AKST THU MAR 5 2009

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
AT THE SURFACE...THE PRIMARY FEATURE OF INTEREST IS A WEAKENING 977
MB LOW LOCATED OVER THE SEWARD PENINSULA. AN ASSOCIATED WARM FRONT
STRETCHES THROUGH INTERIOR ALASKA AND INTO THE YUKON TERRITORY...WITH
DEEP MOISTURE TRANSPORT EVIDENT ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY. A WEAK
SURFACE TROUGH IS LOCATED OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA...WITH
SOUTHERLY FLOW CONTINUING ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL. ELSEWHERE...A COLD
FRONT EXTENDING FROM THE LOW IS MOVING INTO SOUTHCENTRAL FROM THE
WEST. THE NEXT FEATURE OF INTEREST IS A DEVELOPING NORTH PACIFIC
LOW...CURRENTLY LOCATED WELL SOUTHWEST OF SHEMYA.

IN THE UPPER LEVELS...A HIGHLY AMPLIFIED RIDGE CENTERED OVER THE
YUKON TERRITORY CONTINUES TO TRANSLATE EASTWARD. A BROAD TROUGH OVER
THE BERING SEA CONTAINS VARIOUS EMBEDDED WAVES. ONE SUCH POTENT
SHORTWAVE IS BEGINNING TO MOVE OVER THE WESTERN MAINLAND. BETWEEN
THESE TWO SYSTEMS...A STRONG JET IS TRANSPORTING WARM AND MOIST AIR
INTO ALASKA FROM THE SUBTROPICS.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
THE GFS CONTINUES TO BE THE MODEL OF CHOICE DUE TO RUN TO RUN
CONSISTENCY. GENERAL MODEL AGREEMENT IS GOOD THROUGH 00Z
SUNDAY...BEFORE MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE NEXT
NORTH PACIFIC LOW MOVING INTO THE BERING SEA OVER THE WEEKEND.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
.SOUTHCENTRAL...
THE COLD FRONT IS BEGINNING TO PUSH INTO THE AREA THIS
AFTERNOON...WITH MOST LOCATIONS TRANSITIONING BACK TO ALL SNOW.
UPSLOPE SNOW WILL BE WANING THROUGH TONIGHT ALONG THE SUSITNA
VALLEY...WITH SNOW SHOWERS PERSISTING THROUGH THE NIGHT ACROSS MOST
OF SOUTHCENTRAL. A LOW EXPECTED TO FORM IN THE COPPER RIVER BASIN
TONIGHT WILL LEAD TO ENHANCED SNOWFALL IN THAT AREA...WITH SNOWFALL
EXPECTED TO REACH CRITERIA LEVELS MAINLY NORTH AND EAST OF GLENALLEN.
OTHERWISE...AN UPPER TROUGH WILL SWING THROUGH TONIGHT...HELPING TO
SCOUR OUT REMAINING PRECIPITATION. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN BUILDING
INTO SOUTHCENTRAL TOMORROW...WITH IMPROVING CONDITIONS AS WE HEAD
INTO THE WEEKEND.

.SOUTHWEST...
THE COLD FRONT HAS MOVED THROUGH SOUTHWEST EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...AND
ANY REMNANT PRECIPITATION WILL BE SWITCHING BACK TO SNOW AS COLD AIR
FILTERS BACK INTO THE REGION. GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH TONIGHT AS COLD AIR ADVECTION CONTINUES BEHIND THE FRONT.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA
TONIGHT...WITH CONDITIONS IMPROVING AS SNOW MOVES OUT OF THE AREA BY
EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. CONDITIONS WILL BE QUIETING DOWN
TOMORROW...AS HIGH PRESSURE BRIEFLY MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. BY FRIDAY
NIGHT...SOUTHERLY WINDS ALONG COASTAL LOCATIONS AND THE AK PENINSULA
WILL BE INCREASING AGAIN IN RESPONSE TO A TIGHTENING GRADIENT AHEAD
OF THE NORTH PACIFIC LOW APPROACHING THE ALEUTIANS.

.BERING SEA AND ALEUTIANS...
COLD AIR ADVECTION SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE COMING TO AN END TONIGHT AS
HIGH PRESSURE NOSES INTO THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALEUTIANS. HIGH
PRESSURE RIDGING WILL BE SHORT LIVED...AS THE CENTER MOVES EASTWARD
INTO THE GULF OF ALASKA TOMORROW. PRECIPITATION AND WINDS WILL BE ON
THE INCREASE OVERNIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW AS THE AFOREMENTIONED NORTH
PACIFIC LOW MOVES NORTHWARD. WIDESPREAD STORM FORCE WINDS WILL
ACCOMPANY THIS LOW...PARTICULARLY OVER THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN
ALEUTIANS. THIS IS MAINLY IN RESPONSE TO A VERY STRONG PRESSURE
GRADIENT EXISTING BETWEEN THE HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS. THE
POSSIBILITY FOR HIGH WIND WARNINGS WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE
SITUATION EVOLVES.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...
AS MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL
BUILD ACROSS THE INTERIOR THIS WEEKEND AHEAD OF ANOTHER STRONG NORTH
PACIFIC LOW. THIS LOW WILL MOVE INTO THE BERING SEA SATURDAY...WITH
STRONG WINDS LIKELY CREATING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVER THE WESTERN
ALEUTIANS ON THE BACKSIDE. STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS
THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS AND SOUTHWEST MAINLAND...AS THE PRESSURE
GRADIENT TIGHTENS BETWEEN THE HIGH OVER THE MAINLAND AND THE
DEEPENING LOW IN THE BERING SEA.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY...141 145
         BLIZZARD WARNING...155
MARINE...GALE WARNING...130 132 140 141 150 155 160 165 170 171 176
                        180 412 413 414
         STORM WARNING...120 172 175 179 185 351 352 411
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING...121 129 141 185
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

NRH MAR 09

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 5, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC59 hr
Mar 5, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC59 hr
Mar 5, 4:00 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC48 hr
Mar 5, 4:24 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFC20 hr
Mar 5, 4:36 PM AKSTBlizzard WatchAFC13 hr
Mar 6, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Mar 6, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC47 hr
Mar 6, 4:00 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC12 hr
Mar 6, 5:07 AM AKSTBlizzard WarningAFC47 hr
Mar 6, 9:46 AM AKSTBlizzard WarningAFC19 hr

Nearby

Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2009Every storm warning in 2009

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.