Gale Watch 32, NWS Eureka, CA

031 
WHUS76 KEKA 262233
MWWEKA

URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
233 PM PST THU NOV 26 2009

PZZ470-270645-
/O.CAN.KEKA.SC.Y.0065.000000T0000Z-091127T1100Z/
/O.UPG.KEKA.GL.A.0032.091127T1100Z-091128T1100Z/
/O.UPG.KEKA.SE.A.0027.091127T1100Z-091128T1100Z/
/O.EXB.KEKA.GL.W.0084.091127T1600Z-091128T0800Z/
/O.EXB.KEKA.SE.W.0037.091127T1800Z-091128T0900Z/
PT ST GEORGE TO CAPE MENDOCINO 10 TO 60 NM-
233 PM PST THU NOV 26 2009

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT PST FRIDAY
NIGHT...
...HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 1 AM PST
SATURDAY...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

NORTH WINDS WILL INCREASE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING TO 25 TO 30 KT AS
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN BEHIND A FRONT. SOME GUSTS COULD APPROACH
40 KT. THE INCREASING NORTH WINDS WILL RESULT IN BUILDING WIND
WAVES AND FRESH SWELL...WITH WAVES POSSIBLY REACHING HEIGHTS OF 14
FT BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL DECREASE AND SEAS WILL SUBSIDE
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WEAKENS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A GALE WARNING MEANS WINDS OF 34 TO 47 KNOTS ARE IMMINENT OR
OCCURING. OPERATING A VESSEL IN GALE CONDITIONS REQUIRES
EXPERIENCE AND PROPERLY EQUIPPED VESSELS. IT IS HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED THAT MARINERS WITHOUT THE PROPER EXPERIENCE SEEK SAFE
HARBOR PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF GALE CONDITIONS.

A HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING MEANS HAZARDOUS SEA CONDITIONS ARE
IMMINENT OR OCCURING. RECREATIONAL BOATERS SHOULD REMAIN IN
PORT...OR TAKE SHELTER UNTIL WAVES SUBSIDE.  COMMERCIAL VESSELS
SHOULD PREPARE FOR ROUGH SEAS AND CONSIDER REMAINING IN PORT OR
TAKING SHELTER IN PORT UNTIL HAZARDOUS SEAS SUBSIDE.

&&

$$

PZZ475-270645-
/O.CAN.KEKA.SC.Y.0065.000000T0000Z-091127T1100Z/
/O.EXT.KEKA.GL.W.0084.091127T1600Z-091129T0800Z/
/O.EXT.KEKA.SE.W.0037.091127T1800Z-091129T0900Z/
CAPE MENDOCINO TO PT ARENA 10 TO 60 NM-
233 PM PST THU NOV 26 2009

...GALE WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT PST
SATURDAY NIGHT...
...HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 1 AM
PST SUNDAY...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

NORTH WINDS WILL INCREASE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING TO 30 TO 35 KT AS
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN BEHIND A FRONT. GUSTS COULD APPROACH 45 KT
FRIDAY NIGHT. THE INCREASING NORTH WINDS WILL RESULT IN BUILDING
WIND WAVES AND FRESH SWELL...WITH WAVES REACHING HEIGHTS OF 16 FT 
BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL DECREASE AND SEAS WILL
SUBSIDE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WEAKENS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A GALE WARNING MEANS WINDS OF 34 TO 47 KNOTS ARE IMMINENT OR
OCCURRING. OPERATING A VESSEL IN GALE CONDITIONS REQUIRES
EXPERIENCE AND PROPERLY EQUIPPED VESSELS. IT IS HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED THAT MARINERS WITHOUT THE PROPER EXPERIENCE SEEK SAFE
HARBOR PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF GALE CONDITIONS.

A HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING MEANS HAZARDOUS SEA CONDITIONS ARE
IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. RECREATIONAL BOATERS SHOULD REMAIN IN
PORT...OR TAKE SHELTER UNTIL WAVES SUBSIDE.  COMMERCIAL VESSELS
SHOULD PREPARE FOR ROUGH SEAS AND CONSIDER REMAINING IN PORT OR
TAKING SHELTER IN PORT UNTIL HAZARDOUS SEAS SUBSIDE.

&&


$$

PZZ450-270645-
/O.UPG.KEKA.SC.Y.0065.000000T0000Z-091201T0700Z/
/O.NEW.KEKA.SW.Y.0064.091126T2233Z-091201T0600Z/
/O.EXB.KEKA.GL.W.0084.091127T2000Z-091128T0300Z/
PT ST GEORGE TO CAPE MENDOCINO OUT 10 NM-
233 PM PST THU NOV 26 2009

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM
PST MONDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM PST FRIDAY...


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A GALE WARNING MEANS WINDS OF 34 TO 47 KNOTS ARE IMMINENT OR
OCCURING. OPERATING A VESSEL IN GALE CONDITIONS REQUIRES
EXPERIENCE AND PROPERLY EQUIPPED VESSELS. IT IS HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED THAT MARINERS WITHOUT THE PROPER EXPERIENCE SEEK SAFE
HARBOR PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF GALE CONDITIONS.

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS MEANS THAT WAVES ARE
EXPECTED TO BE HAZARDOUS TO SMALL CRAFT. MARINERS SHOULD AVOID
SHOALING AREAS. LONG PERIOD SWELL CAN SHARPEN INTO LARGE BREAKING
WAVES IN SHOALING AREAS. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR WAVES TO BREAK
MUCH FARTHER FROM SHOALING AREAS THAN IS NORMALLY EXPERIENCED.
REMEMBER...BREAKING WAVES CAN EASILY CAPSIZE EVEN LARGER VESSELS.

&&

$$

PZZ455-270645-
/O.UPG.KEKA.SC.Y.0065.000000T0000Z-091201T0700Z/
/O.NEW.KEKA.SW.Y.0064.091126T2233Z-091201T0600Z/
/O.EXB.KEKA.GL.W.0084.091127T2300Z-091128T0800Z/
CAPE MENDOCINO TO PT ARENA OUT 10 NM-
233 PM PST THU NOV 26 2009

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM
PST MONDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT PST FRIDAY
NIGHT...

NORTH WINDS WILL INCREASE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING TO 25 TO 30 KT AS
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN BEHIND A FRONT. SOME GUSTS COULD APPROACH
40 KT. THE INCREASING NORTH WINDS WILL RESULT IN BUILDING WIND
WAVES AND FRESH SWELL...WITH WAVES POSSIBLY REACHING HEIGHTS OF 13
FT BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL DECREASE AND SEAS WILL SUBSIDE
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WEAKENS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A GALE WARNING MEANS WINDS OF 34 TO 47 KNOTS ARE IMMINENT OR
OCCURING. OPERATING A VESSEL IN GALE CONDITIONS REQUIRES
EXPERIENCE AND PROPERLY EQUIPPED VESSELS. IT IS HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED THAT MARINERS WITHOUT THE PROPER EXPERIENCE SEEK SAFE
HARBOR PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF GALE CONDITIONS.

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS MEANS THAT WAVES ARE
EXPECTED TO BE HAZARDOUS TO SMALL CRAFT. MARINERS SHOULD AVOID
SHOALING AREAS. LONG PERIOD SWELL CAN SHARPEN INTO LARGE BREAKING
WAVES IN SHOALING AREAS. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR WAVES TO BREAK
MUCH FARTHER FROM SHOALING AREAS THAN IS NORMALLY EXPERIENCED.
REMEMBER...BREAKING WAVES CAN EASILY CAPSIZE EVEN LARGER VESSELS.

&&

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
255 PM PST WED NOV 25 2009

.SYNOPSIS...DRY WEATHER WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH
TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL BRING A CHANCE OF RAIN TO THE REGION
THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE WILL
BUILD FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND RESULT IN DRY AND STABLE WEATHER
THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

&&

.DISCUSSION...ANOTHER NICE DAY ACROSS THE REGION TODAY UNDER
LIGHT OFFSHORE FLOW AND A RIDGE ALOFT. PATCHES OF FOG AND LOW
CLOUDS WERE OFFSHORE OVER THE WATERS AND SHOULD CREEP ONTO THE
COAST THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. GRADIENTS REMAIN LIGHT
WITH DIURNALLY DRIVEN WINDS...SO THE SHALLOW FOG AND LOW CLOUD
SHOULD PEEL AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE THURSDAY MORNING AS LIGHT
SOUTH WINDS FORM IN RESPONSE TO A DEVELOPING LOW WEST OF OREGON.

PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERN CONTINUES TO REVOLVE AROUND THE TIMING
OF RAIN THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. AS OF
21Z...THE RAIN FRONT WAS NEARING 135W 40N. THE FRONT WILL SLOW
DOWN AS LOW PRESSURE SPINS UP...WEST OF 130W AND NORTH OF 42N
TONIGHT. LIGHT RAIN AND PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT OF DRIZZLE MAY HIT
THE GROUND AS EARLY AS THURSDAY AFTERNOON IN THE WEAK WARM AIR
ADVECTION AND LIGHT SOUTHERLY FLOW IN ADVANCE OF THE MAIN BOUNDARY.
PRIAMRY FRONTAL PASSAGE IS EXPECTED THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE 700-500MB
TROUGH MOVES OVER THE REGION. BY 4 AM FRIDAY...UP TO THREE-QUARTERS
OF AN INCH OF RAIN WILL ACCUMULATE IN DEL NORTE COUNTY...WITH LESS
THAN A TENTH SOUTH TO UKIAH AND EAST TO WEAVERVILLE. SNOW LEVELS
WILL REMAIN ABOVE ALL THE MAJOR PASSES DURING THE BULK OF THE HEAVIER
PRECIP RATES THURSDAY NIGHT...SO WINTER WEATHER TRAVEL CONCERNS
APPEAR TO BE MINIMAL AT THIS TIME. COLD AIR ALOFT AND SHALLOW
INSTABILITY WILL LINGER THROUGH THE DAY ON FRIDAY AND WE MAY SEE
ISOLATED OR SCATTERED WET SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 INCH OR LESS
FROM 2500 TO 3500 FEET OVER THE COASTAL RANGES. ECMWF AND GFS HAS
MOISTURE RUNNING OVER THE RIDGE IN NORTHERLY FLOW ON SATURDAY.
THIS LOOKS TO BE OVERDONE WITH STRONG HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE
AND BRISK NORTH FLOW IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER. FOR NOW...LEFT THE
POSSIBILITY OF LIGHT SHOWERS IN THE FORECAST...MAINLY ACROSS DEL
NORTE COUNTY FOR SATURDAY.

HIGH PRESSURE WILL REBUILD BY SATURDAY AND HOLD THROUGH SUNDAY.
THE DRY AND STABLE WEATHER LOOKS TO CONTINUE INTO MONDAY. HOWEVER...
12Z ECMWF AND 12Z GFS DO SHOW A SHORT-WAVE TROUGH MOVING OVER THE
RIDGE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY FOR AN OUTSIDE CHANCE OF LIGHT
RAIN...MAINLY ACROSS HUMBOLDT AND DEL NORTE COUNTIES. IF THE TIMING
OF THIS SHORT-WAVE IS CORRECT...HIGH PRESSURE AND DRY OFFSHORE
FLOW WILL RETURN ON WED. THIS IS THE FIRST RUN SHOWING RAIN
CREEPING BACK INTO THE PICTURE FOR MON->TUE...SO WILL HOLD OFF ON
ADDING A CHANCE OF RAIN TO THE FORECAST. DJB

&&

.AVIATION...WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL MAINTAIN LIGHT WINDS THROUGH THE
NIGHT. SKIES WILL BE MOSTLY CLEAR IN THE EARLY EVENING WITH POCKETS
OF MVFR VISIBILITIES DUE TO HAZE. EXPECT STRATUS AND POSSIBLY PATCHY
FOG ALONG THE COAST LATER THIS EVENING. THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN
MID AND HIGH CLOUDS TONIGHT AND THU MORNING AS A FRONTAL SYSTEM
APPROACHES THE REGION. THESE HIGHER CLOUDS WILL REDUCE NOCTURNAL
RADIATION COOLING IN THE EARLY MORNING...AND MAY DETER FOG
DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE COAST AND COASTAL VALLEYS. SKIES SHOULD REMAIN
MOSTLY CLEAR INLAND WITH RADIATION FOG DEVELOPING IN THE INTERIOR
VALLEYS OVERNIGHT AND INTO THU MORNING. TH

&&

.MARINE...THE SHORT TERM MARINE CHALLENGE IS A LARGE WEST SWELL THAT
WILL MOVE THROUGH THE WATERS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING.
SWELL OBSERVATIONS OF 22 TO 26 FT WITH 17 SECOND PERIODS WERE
OBSERVED AT BUOY #6 THIS MORNING. A SIMPLE SWELL DECAY MODEL
FORECASTS 15 TO 17 FT SWELL WITH 19 SECOND PERIODS IN THE NORTHERN
CA WATERS NEAR MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...WHEREAS THE ENP AND SWAN MODELS
FORECAST 14 TO 16 FT SWELL AT 16 SECONDS. THE 06Z AND 12Z ENP
FORECAST FOR BUOY#6 ALIGNED WELL WITH OBSERVATIONS TODAY AND HAD NO
REASON TO DEVIATE MUCH FROM THE MODEL...BUT HAVE FORECASTED SWELL 1
TO 2 FT ABOVE GUIDANCE DUE TO THE SWELL OBSERVED AT BUOY#6. THE
SWELL WILL REMAIN BELOW WARNING LEVEL...BUT THE SEAS WILL REMAIN
DANGEROUS AND PRODUCE LARGE BREAKERS IN BAYS AND HARBOR ENTRANCES.
WINDS NORTH OF CAPE MENDOCINO WILL SHIFT TO THE SOUTH LATE TONIGHT
AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING FRONT AND INCREASE SLIGHTLY THURSDAY NIGHT
AS THE FRONT NEARS.

NORTH WINDS WILL RAPIDLY INTENSIFY BEHIND THE FRONT ON FRIDAY WITH
GALES POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...MAINLY OVER THE OUTER
WATERS. STEEP SEAS WILL DEVELOP FROM THE STRONG WINDS AND WHEN
COMBINED WITH A MODERATE NW SWELL WILL POSE AN EXTRA THREAT TO
MARINERS FRIDAY...FRIDAY NIGHT...AND POSSIBLY INTO SAT MORNING.
FORECAST MODELS ARE HINTING FOR A BRIEF DECREASE IN WINDS OUT 10 NM
SATURDAY MORNING...BUT THE WINDS STAY STRONG BEYOND 10 NM...AND
INTENSIFY OVER ALL WATERS IN THE AFTERNOON. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT
SHOULD RELAX SATURDAY NIGHT WITH CALMER WINDS BY SUNDAY. A SERIES OF
STORMS MOVING ACROSS THE NE PACIFIC WILL MAINTAIN MODERATE NW SWELL
THROUGH THE WEEKEND. TH

&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 3 AM
THURSDAY TO 11 PM PST MONDAY FOR PZZ450-455. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY
FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 PM PST MONDAY FOR PZZ470-475.

&&

VISIT US AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/EUREKA