Gale Warning 159, NWS Anchorage, AK

273 
FZAK61 PAFC 250001
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST THU FEB 24 2011

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.

PKZ399-251500-
400 PM AKST THU FEB 24 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL WEAKEN AND DRIFT 
SOUTHWARD THROUGH FRI EVENING. A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP
ALONG THE NORTH GULF COAST FRI NIGHT. 

$$

PKZ351-251500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKST THU FEB 24 2011

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

.TONIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-251500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKST THU FEB 24 2011

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

.TONIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

610 
FZAK61 PAFC 251245
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST FRI FEB 25 2011

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.

PKZ399-260300-
400 AM AKST FRI FEB 25 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL WEAKEN AND DRIFT SOUTHWARD
THROUGH THIS EVENING. A 1003 MB LOW WILL FORM SAT MORNING NEAR 59N 
140W. IT WILL THEN MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO BRITISH COLUMBIA LATE SAT.

$$

PKZ351-260300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST FRI FEB 25 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-260300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM AKST FRI FEB 25 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TONIGHT...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

512 
FZAK61 PAFC 260000
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST FRI FEB 25 2011

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.

PKZ399-261500-
400 PM AKST FRI FEB 25 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 1003 MB LOW WILL DEVELOP NEAR 59N 140W SAT MORNING AND MOVE TO 54N
132W AT 990 MB SAT NIGHT.
$$

PKZ351-261500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKST FRI FEB 25 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 18 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  
$$

PKZ352-261500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKST FRI FEB 25 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  
$$

513 
FZAK61 PAFC 261249
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

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.

PKZ399-270300-
400 AM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 1003 MB LOW NEAR 58N 140W THIS MORNING WILL MOVE TO 52N 132W AND
DEEPEN TO 987 MB SUN AFTERNOON. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE EASTERN
BERING SEA THIS MORNING WILL MOVE INLAND OVER THE ALASKA INTERIOR
TONIGHT AND PERSIST THROUGH MON. 

$$

PKZ351-270300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TODAY...NW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-270300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TODAY...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 23 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

227 
FZAK61 PAFC 270021
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

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 SAT FEB 26 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 998 MB LOW NEAR 56N 135W WILL MOVE TO NEAR 52N 132W AND DEEPEN TO
987 MB SUN AFTERNOON. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE EASTERN
BERING SEA WILL MOVE INLAND OVER THE ALASKA INTERIOR TONIGHT AND
PERSIST THROUGH MON. 
$$

PKZ351-271500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...N WIND 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  
$$

PKZ352-271500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKST SAT FEB 26 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  
$$

947 
FZAK61 PAFC 271234
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

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 SUN FEB 27 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLAND ALASKA THROUGH LATE 
MON NIGHT WITH LOWER PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA. 
$$

PKZ351-280300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 TO 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 25 KT 
AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 13 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT AND TUE...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.THU...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-280300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...N WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

281 
FZAK61 PAFC 280016
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

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 SUN FEB 27 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLAND ALASKA THROUGH TUE. A 987 MB
LOW NEAR 52N 132W WILL SLOWLY DRIFT SOUTH AND WEAKEN THROUGH TUE.
$$

PKZ351-281500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

.TONIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT AND WED...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  
$$

PKZ352-281500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKST SUN FEB 27 2011

.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU AND FRI...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
$$

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST WED FEB 23 2011

.MODEL DISCUSSION...MODELS ARE DOING MUCH BETTER TODAY WITH PRETTY
MUCH A REASONABLE CONSENSUS SOLUTION IN REGARDS TO THE STRONG LOW IN
THE BERING SEA. THE GFS IS STILL A LITTLE WEAK SO THE ECMWF/NAM
SOLUTION HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN USED FOR THE AFTERNOON FORECAST PACKAGES
IN THE WEST. THINGS REMAIN MORE SETTLED IN THE EAST WITH THE LARGE
HIGH OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA. THE BIGGEST MODEL QUESTION WILL BE THE
EXACT TIMING AND LOCATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TROUGH ALONG THE
NORTH GULF COAST SOMETIME BETWEEN FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND FRIDAY NIGHT.

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN
PART OF THE STATE IS PROGRESSING EASTWARD AS A LARGE LOW IN THE
WESTERN BERING SEA ADVANCES TO THE NORTHEAST. THERE WILL BE AN UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH THAT MOVES QUICKLY THROUGH THE NORTHERN PART OF THE
STATE UNTIL THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH REASSERTS ITSELF IN AN OMEGA BLOCK
BY THIS WEEKEND. THE JET STREAM RUNS UP THE WESTERN LIMB OF THE UPPER
RIDGE AND OVER THE TOP BEFORE DESCENDING SOUTHWARD AGAIN. THIS
PATTERN WILL CONTINUE AROUND THIS RIDGE AS WELL AS THE ONE THIS
WEEKEND. A LARGE SURFACE LOW IN THE BERING SEA IS CURRENTLY JUST A
LITTLE NORTHEAST OF ATTU AND MOVING QUICKLY TO THE NORTHEAST. IT WILL
BASICALLY FOLLOW THE TRACK OF THE PREVIOUS LOW INTO THE CHUKCHI SEA.
THIS WILL KEEP SOUTHWEST ALASKA AND THE MAJORITY OF THE BERING SEA IN
STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW THROUGH TOMORROW BEFORE THE NEW SURFACE RIDGE
MOVES INTO THE BERING SEA THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY.
A THE SURFACE RIDGE THAT HAS BEEN OVER THE INTERIOR OF THE STATE IS
SPLITTING SENDING ONE PART INTO THE YUKON AND THE OTHER INTO THE GULF
OF ALASKA. THIS RIDGE WILL MAINTAIN STRENGTH FOR AWHILE WITH
PRESSURES APPROACHING 1050 MB OVER THE GULF.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...THE HIGH WIND WARNING IN THE WESTERN ALEUTIAN
ISLANDS WAS CHANGED TO A BLIZZARD WARNING AS VISIBILITIES IN SHEMYA
DROPPED TO ONE QUARTER MILE IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW AS WIND GUSTS
INCREASED TO NEAR 90 MPH. TEMPERATURES ALSO DROPPED DURING THE DAY
INDICATING EVEN MORE CLOD AIR WRAPPED UP INTO THIS SYSTEM THAN HAD
BEEN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED.
JUST TO THE EAST OF THIS LOW...INT THE WARM SECTOR OF THE SYSTEM ADAK
CLIMBED INTO THE MID 40S IN RAIN. AS THIS LOW MOVES NORTHWARD A COLD
FRONT WILL MOVE FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE BERING SEA AND TOMORROW
AND STRETCHING FROM THE SOUTHWEST ALASKA COAST TO NEAR DUTCH HARBOR
TOMORROW AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION AHEAD OF THIS FRONT WILL BE MOSTLY
RAIN WITH SNOW SHOWERS BEHIND IT. THIS FRONT WILL BRING STRONG WINDS
TO THE ENTIRE BERING SEA REGION.
SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA WILL SEE SOME HIGH CLOUDS MOVING OVER THE RIDGE
BUT NO PRECIPITATION THROUGH TOMORROW. SOME STRATUS MAY DEVELOP IN
COOK INLET OVERNIGHT AS FLOW TURNS SOUTHWEST UP THE INLET OVERNIGHT.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...AN OMEGA BLOCK RIDGE WILL DEVELOP OVER THE
EASTERN BERING SEA AND WESTERN ALASKA BY THE WEEKEND. A NORTHERLY JET
RIDING OVER THIS RIDGE WILL DESCEND OVER SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA
BRINGING THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS ACROSS THE AREA.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR AREAS AROUND THE GULF COAST AS A LOW
PRESSURE TROUGH WILL DEVELOP AS WELL.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WARNING 191.
MARINE...GALE 155 160 165 170 171 172 179 180.
         STORM 175 176 185.
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 185.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

FEB 11