Gale Warning 2, NWS New Orleans, LA

549 
WHUS74 KLIX 160946
MWWLIX

URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
346 AM CST SAT JAN 16 2010

...WINDS EASING SOMEWHAT...

.THE SMALL AND STRONG SURFACE LOW THAT CREATED GALE CONDITIONS
FRIDAY NIGHT HAS WEAKENED. SUSTAINED WINDS ABOVE 20 KNOTS ARE
STILL EXPECTED OVER THE COASTAL WATERS TODAY AND TONIGHT...AND
POSSIBLY INTO SUNDAY. 

GMZ530-161100-
/O.CAN.KLIX.GL.W.0002.000000T0000Z-100116T1500Z/
/O.CAN.KLIX.SC.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-100116T1800Z/
LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS-
346 AM CST SAT JAN 16 2010

...GALE WARNING IS CANCELLED...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS HAS CANCELLED THE
GALE WARNING. THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 

WINDS HAVE EASED TO 10 TO 15 KNOTS EARLY THIS MORNING...AND SHOULD
REMAIN IN THAT RANGE FOR MOST OF THE DAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES
MAY BE NECESSARY AGAIN TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING.

$$

GMZ550-555-570-575-161800-
/O.CAN.KLIX.GL.W.0002.000000T0000Z-100116T1500Z/
/O.CON.KLIX.SC.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-100117T1200Z/
COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
346 AM CST SAT JAN 16 2010

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SUNDAY...
...GALE WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS HAS CANCELLED THE
GALE WARNING. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM
CST SUNDAY. 

THE LOW PRESSURE THAT PRODUCED THE GALE FORCE WINDS FRIDAY NIGHT
HAS WEAKENED. WINDS REMAIN BETWEEN 20 AND 30 KNOTS OVER MUCH OF
THE COASTAL WATERS THIS MORNING. THERE MAY BE A FEW HOURS DURING
THE LATE MORNING WHERE WINDS FALL BELOW 20 KNOTS...BUT AS THE LOW
PRESSURE MOVES AWAY...WINDS WILL RESTRENGTHEN INTO THE 20 TO 25
KNOT RANGE OVERNIGHT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MEANS THAT WIND SPEEDS OF 20 TO 33 KNOTS
ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE HAZARDOUS WAVE CONDITIONS TO SMALL CRAFT.
INEXPERIENCED MARINERS... ESPECIALLY THOSE OPERATING SMALLER
VESSELS SHOULD AVOID NAVIGATING IN THESE CONDITIONS.

&&

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
901 PM CST FRI JAN 15 2010

.UPDATE...
LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWED A LOW OVER THE CENTRAL TEXAS
COASTAL WATERS AND LOWER PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHWEST GULF. THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT IS VERY TIGHT ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
LOUISIANA AND 18Z GFS BOUNDARY LAYER WINDS ARE 30 TO 35 KNOTS FROM
JUST SOUTH OF ATCHAFALAYA BAY TO MISSISSIPPI SOUND AT 06Z OR
MIDNIGHT. WITH SURF TEMPS STAYING UP...BL WINDS HAVE MIXED DOWN
AND WE ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

&&

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 718 PM CST FRI JAN 15 2010/

UPDATE...
SOUNDING DISCUSSION...

LIGHT RAINFALL OCCURRED AT LAUNCH...THE ATMOSPHERE IS SATURATED
WITH A PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUE OF 1.19 INCHES. LIGHT TO MODERATE
STRATIFORM RAINFALL CONTINUES TO MOVE ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE CWA.
WINDS ARE OUT OF THE EAST UP TO 5000 FEET AND OUT OF THE SOUTH AND
SOUTHWEST ALOFT.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 337 PM CST FRI JAN 15 2010/

SHORT TERM...
A LARGE AREA OF LIGHT O MODERATE RAIN HAS SPREAD NORTHWARD ACROSS
NEARLY THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA BY MID AFTERNOON.
THIS RAIN WAS OCCURRING IN ADVANCE OF AN UPPER LOW MOVING EASTWARD
OUT OF NORTHERN MEXICO AND AN ASSOCIATED SURFACE CONTINUING TO
DEVELOP OVER THE WESTERN GULF THIS AFTERNOON. A WARM FRONT
EXTENDED FROM THE LOW ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO. TO
THE SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY...DEW POINTS WERE IN THE
LOWER TO MID 60S.

VERY WET CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED EARLY IN THE FORECAST PERIOD. THE
MODELS HAVE NOW COME INTO EXCELLENT AGREEMENT WITH THE TRACK OF
THE SURFACE LOW. THE ECMWF...NAM...OPERATIONAL GFS...AND GFS
ENSEMBLE ALL FORECAST THE SURFACE LOW TO MOVE EAST NORTHEAST FROM
THE WESTERN GULF AND PASS ALONG OR JUST OF THE SOUTHEAST
LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI COASTS SATURDAY. THIS TRACK SHOULD KEEP
THE WARM SECTOR AND MOST OF THE CONVECTION...INCLUDING A SLIM
THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS. THE
EXCEPTION TO THIS IS LOWER PLAQUEMINES PARISH AND PERHAPS SECTIONS
OF COASTAL MISSISSIPPI WHICH COULD BRIEFLY BE IN THE WARM SECTOR
FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SATURDAY. THE BIGGEST NEWS STORY WITH THIS
EVENT WILL BE THE RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH IT. PRECIPITABLE WATER
VALUES APPROACHING 1.75 INCHES...DIFLUENT FLOW ALOFT...AND STRONG
DYNAMICS AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW APPROACHES AND MOVES ACROSS THE
REGION THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT WILL RESULT WIDESPREAD MODERATE TO
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL DURING THE PERIOD. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF TWO
TO THREE INCHES WILL BE COMMON WITH ISOLATED FOUR INCH AMOUNTS
POSSIBLE. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL LIKELY BE LOCATED ACROSS THE
COASTAL SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THIS
RAINFALL WILL BE SPREAD OUT ACROSS A 24 TO 36 HOURS PERIOD. AS A
RESULT...SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED WITH FLASH FLOOD
GUIDANCE VALUES GENERALLY RUNNING BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE INCHES FOR A
6 HOUR PERIOD NOW. HOWEVER...URBAN FLOODING AND PONDING OF WATER
ON ROADWAYS AND LOW LYING AREAS WILL CERTAINLY BE POSSIBLE AT
TIMES...PRIMARILY LATE TONIGHT AND DURING THE DAY SATURDAY. DRIER
AIR WILL BEGIN TO WORK ITS WAY INTO THE REGION LATER SATURDAY
NIGHT AS THE UPPER SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE LOW PULL OFF TO
THE NORTHEAST BRINGING AN END TO THE RAIN. MUCH BETTER CONDITIONS
WILL PREVAIL DURING THE LAST DAY OF THE WEEKEND...HOWEVER
CONSIDERABLE CLOUDINESS WILL LIKELY PERSIST THROUGH AT LEAST THE
FIRST HALF OF THE DAY SUNDAY BEFORE MUCH IN THE WAY OF CLEARING
TAKES PLACE. 11

LONG TERM...
THE NEW WORK WEEK WILL BEGIN ON A QUIET NOTE WITH A MORE OR LESS
ZONAL FLOW ALOFT PREVAILING ACROSS MUCH OF THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN
CONUS. TEMPERATURES DURING THE PERIOD WILL BE RELATIVELY MILD
WITH HIGHS AND LOWS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. A COUPLE OF SHORT WAVE
TROUGHS QUICKLY MOVING OUT OF THE WESTERN U.S. AND ACROSS THE
CENTRAL CONUS WILL BRING US OUR NEXT CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND A FEW
THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE MIDDLE AND LATTER PART OF THE UPCOMING
WORK WEEK. 11

AVIATION...
ELEVATED NORTHEAST WINDS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE PERIOD BUT BECOME
MORE NORTH LATE IN THE DAY TOMORROW. CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO
DETERIORATE THIS EVENING AS AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE TRACKS ACROSS
THE NORTHERN GULF TOWARDS THE AREA. EXPECT LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN
THROUGH MUCH OF THE NIGHT WITH MORE PERSISTENT MODERATE TO HEAVY
RAIN TOMORROW AFTER SUNRISE. CIGS WILL BEGIN LOWERING TO MVFR THIS
EVENING WITH IFR BY MORNING. LIFR VIS WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING
HEAVIER RAIN. 12

MARINE...
HAVEN/T MADE TOO MANY CHANGES TO MARINE FORECAST. SURFACE LOW OVER
NORTHERN MEXICO NEAR SOUTHERN TX WILL TRACK ACROSS THE NORTHWESTERN
GULF AND THROUGH THE LA/MS COASTAL WATERS. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO
INCREASE AS THE LOW APPROACHES AND PRESSURE GRADIENT INCREASES.
STILL EXPECTING A PEAK OF 20 TO 30 KNOTS NEAR SUNRISE SATURDAY.
CURRENT THINKING IS SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT WILL SUFFICE AS
OPPOSED TO ANYTHING GALE RELATED. MODELS HAVE COME INTO BETTER
AGREEMENT THAT THE LOW WILL TRACK CLOSE TO SOUTHERN PLAQUEMINES
PARISH AND  TURN NORTHEASTWARD TOWARDS THE AL COAST. HAVE EXTENDED
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR COASTAL WATERS THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT.
OTHER IMPACT...THUNDERSTORMS EAST OF THIS LOW ALONG THE ASSOCIATED
WARM FRONT WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE. 12

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MCB  46  53  43  56 /  80 100  70  10
BTR  48  54  43  57 /  90 100  60  10
ASD  47  58  45  57 /  90 100  70  10
MSY  51  59  46  57 / 100 100  60  10
GPT  51  61  46  56 /  80 100  70  10
PQL  47  61  45  56 /  80 100  70  10

&&

.LIX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     ASSUMPTION...LOWER JEFFERSON...LOWER LAFOURCHE...LOWER
     PLAQUEMINES...LOWER ST. BERNARD...LOWER
     TERREBONNE...ORLEANS...ST. CHARLES...ST. JAMES...ST. JOHN
     THE BAPTIST...ST. TAMMANY...TANGIPAHOA...UPPER
     JEFFERSON...UPPER LAFOURCHE...UPPER PLAQUEMINES...UPPER ST.
     BERNARD...UPPER TERREBONNE...AND WASHINGTON.

GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF
     THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM 20 TO 60 NM...COASTAL WATERS
     FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI
     RIVER OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF
     THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA FROM 20
     TO 60 NM...AND COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF
     THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA OUT 20
     NM.

MS...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     HANCOCK...HARRISON...JACKSON...PEARL RIVER...PIKE...AND
     WALTHALL.

GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 AM SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF
     THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM 20 TO 60 NM...COASTAL WATERS
     FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI
     RIVER OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF
     THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA FROM 20
     TO 60 NM...AND COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF
     THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA OUT 20
     NM.

&&

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1100 AM CST FRI JAN 15 2010

GMZ530-550-555-570-575-LAZ034>040-046>050-056>070-MSZ068>071-077-
080>082-161400-
LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS-
COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
TO LOWER ATCHAFALAYA RIVER LA FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PASCAGOULA MS TO THE SOUTHWEST PASS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM 20 TO 60 NM-POINTE COUPEE-WEST FELICIANA-
EAST FELICIANA-ST. HELENA-TANGIPAHOA-WASHINGTON-ST. TAMMANY-
IBERVILLE-WEST BATON ROUGE-EAST BATON ROUGE-ASCENSION-LIVINGSTON-
ASSUMPTION-ST. JAMES-ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST-UPPER LAFOURCHE-
ST. CHARLES-UPPER JEFFERSON-ORLEANS-UPPER PLAQUEMINES-
UPPER ST. BERNARD-UPPER TERREBONNE-LOWER TERREBONNE-
LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER JEFFERSON-LOWER PLAQUEMINES-
LOWER ST. BERNARD-WILKINSON-AMITE-PIKE-WALTHALL-PEARL RIVER-
HANCOCK-HARRISON-JACKSON-
1100 AM CST FRI JAN 15 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF COASTAL WATERS
OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHEAST
LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS NORTH MEXICO
WILL CONTINUE TO RESULT IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND DEEPENING OF A
SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE WEST GULF OF MEXICO. AS THIS
SURFACE LOW BEGINS TO MOVE OFF TO THE EAST NORTHEAST...WINDS WILL
INCREASE TO MODERATE LEVELS LATER TODAY INTO TONIGHT. SOME INCREASE
IN TIDE LEVELS WILL BE NOTED...PARTICULARLY DURING THE HIGH TIDE
PORTION OF THE TIDAL CYCLE TONIGHT. SOME MINOR COASTAL FLOODING MAY
OCCUR AT HIGH TIDE. RAIN WILL DEVELOP IN THE GULF AND SPREAD
NORTHWARD THROUGH THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. RAINFALL MAY BECOME
HEAVY AT TIMES. THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED OVER LAND AREAS
THROUGH TONIGHT...BUT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE
COASTAL WATERS. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL
WATERS AND TIDAL LAKES FOR INCREASING WINDS AND BUILDING SEAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE GULF LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO PASS ALONG THE
LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI COASTS...KEEPING ANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
THREAT LIMITED TO THE NEAR COASTAL WATERS. IF THE TRACK OF THE LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM IS FARTHER NORTH INTO SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA...THEN
THERE MAY BE A WINDOW OF SLIGHT RISK FOR TORNADOES AND DAMAGING
WINDS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI COAST AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
PARISHES SATURDAY. RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO BE WIDESPREAD WITH
STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES POSSIBLE THROUGH SATURDAY
NIGHT WITH THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS MORE LIKELY IN COASTAL AREAS. SOME
PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING AND POORLY DRAINED AREA MAY OCCUR...
BUT SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

MARINE HAZARDS...
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FOR SATURDAY. IN THE MARINE
AREAS...THUNDERSTORMS IN SQUALLS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GALE FORCE
GUSTS AND LOCALLY ROUGH SEAS LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY
LATE AFTERNOON. AFTER THUNDERSTORMS MOVE OUT OF THE AREA...THERE
IS A POTENTIAL OF STRONG GUSTS UPWARDS TO 50 KNOTS AS VERY DRY AIR
ALOFT GETS TRANSPORTED TO THE WATER SURFACE SATURDAY EVENING. THIS
CONDITION WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED AND SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS MAY
BE REQUIRED FOR NON-THUNDERSTORM WINDS SATURDAY EVENING.

RIVER FLOODING...
THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER AT MORGAN CITY WILL REMAIN ABOVE FLOOD STAGE
THROUGH THURSDAY. EXPECTED RAINFALL FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL CAUSE
RISES ALONG MANY OF THE AREA RIVERS. REFER TO LATER RIVER FLOOD
STATEMENTS AND RIVER STAGES TO CHECK THE STATUS OF RIVERS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
817 PM CST FRI JAN 15 2010

LAZ037>040-050-MSZ069>071-077-080-160300-
AMITE-HANCOCK-LIVINGSTON-PEARL RIVER-PIKE-ST HELENA-ST TAMMANY-
TANGIPAHOA-WALTHALL-WASHINGTON-
817 PM CST FRI JAN 15 2010

...BRIEF STRONG WINDS FOR PARTS OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND EAST
   CENTRAL LOUISIANA...

NORTHEAST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASED TO 20 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR
WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MILES AN HOUR FOR A BRIEF PERIOD ACROSS EXTREME
SOUTH CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AND EAST CENTRAL LOUISIANA NORTH OF LAKE
PONTCHARTRAIN. WINDS SHOULD DECREASE AFTER 9 PM.

DRIVERS OF VANS...CAMPERS...TRAILERS...AND OTHER HIGH-PROFILE
VEHICLES SHOULD BE ALERT TO THESE STRONG WINDS.