Gale Warning 244, NWS Anchorage, AK

964 
FZAK62 PAFC 091153
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST WED MAR 9 2011

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.

PKZ499-100300-
400 AM AKST WED MAR 9 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 965 MB LOW NEAR 51N 165E WILL MOVE TO 55N 163E AT 975 MB THU
EVENING AND THEN CONTINUE WEAKENING THROUGH FRI. AN ASSOCIATED FRONT
OVER THE WESTERN BERING WILL WEAKEN AS IT TRACKS TO THE NORTHERN
BERING ON THU. A 989 MB LOW WILL MOVE TO 51N 180 THU AFTERNOON...THEN
MOVE TO NEAR 55N 178W AT 991 MB EARLY FRI MORNING.
$$

PKZ411-100300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKST WED MAR 9 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SAT AND SUN...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
$$

PKZ412-100300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST WED MAR 9 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. PATCHY FOG. FREEZING SPRAY
EAST OF 176W. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. PATCHY FOG. FREEZING
SPRAY EAST OF 175W. 
.THU...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. PATCHY FOG. FREEZING SPRAY
EAST OF 174W.
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  
$$

PKZ413-100300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST WED MAR 9 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO S 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
14 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  
$$

PKZ414-100300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKST WED MAR 9 2011

.TODAY...SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT INCREASING TO 15 TO 30 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT. PATCHY FOG. FREEZING SPRAY
NORTH OF 56N. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. PATCHY
FOG. FREEZING SPRAY NORTH OF 56N. 
.THU...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. PATCHY FOG.
FREEZING SPRAY NORTH OF 56N. 
.THU NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. 
.SAT AND SUN...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. 
$$

231 
FZAK62 PAFC 100030
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST WED MAR 9 2011

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.

PKZ499-101500-
400 PM AKST WED MAR 9 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 973 MB LOW NEAR 53N 165E WILL MOVE TO 55N 164E AT 978 MB THU NIGHT.

A WEATHER FRONT IN THE CENTRAL BERING WILL DISSIPATE THU. A 993 MB
LOW NEAR 43N 173E THU AFTERNOON WILL MOVE TO 48N 170W AT 979 MB FRI
AFTERNOON.
$$

PKZ411-101500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST WED MAR 9 2011

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 TO 20 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 15 TO 19 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.FRI...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT THROUGH SUN...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT.
.MON...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  
$$

PKZ412-101500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST WED MAR 9 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
FREEZING SPRAY NEAR THE ICE EDGE. 
.THU...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 11 TO 16 FT. PATCHY FOG. FREEZING
SPRAY NEAR THE ICE EDGE. 
.THU NIGHT AND FRI...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT.  
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN AND MON...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.   

$$

PKZ413-101500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST WED MAR 9 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
15 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 TO 17 FT. RAIN.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-101500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST WED MAR 9 2011

.TONIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. PATCHY
FOG. FREEZING SPRAY NEAR THE ICE EDGE. 
.THU...E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT. PATCHY FOG.
FREEZING SPRAY NEAR THE ICE EDGE. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. 
.SAT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT.  

$$

098 
FZAK62 PAFC 101205
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST THU MAR 10 2011

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.

PKZ499-110300-
400 AM AKST THU MAR 10 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 972 MB LOW NEAR 54N 168E MOVES TOWARDS THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA AND
WEAKENS TONIGHT. A 992 MB LOW MOVES TO 51N 179W THU AFTERNOON AND
THEN DISSIPATES NEAR 54N 177W THU NIGHT. ANOTHER NORTH PACIFIC LOW
MOVES TO 49N 175W AT 977 MB FRI MORNING AND THEN MOVES SOUTHEAST INTO
THE NORTH PACIFIC FRI NIGHT.
$$

PKZ411-110300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKST THU MAR 10 2011

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...EXCEPT N 15 TO 25 KT SOUTH OF 56N AND
EAST OF 178E. SEAS 16 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  
$$

PKZ412-110300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST THU MAR 10 2011

.TODAY...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.FRI...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN AND MON...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
$$

PKZ413-110300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST THU MAR 10 2011

.TODAY...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.FRI...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SUN AND MON...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
$$

PKZ414-110300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKST THU MAR 10 2011

.TODAY...SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. PATCHY
FOG. FREEZING SPRAY NORTH OF 56N. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. PATCHY
FOG. FREEZING SPRAY NORTH OF 56N. 
.FRI...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. PATCHY FOG.
FREEZING SPRAY NORTH OF 56N. 
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. 
.SAT THROUGH MON...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. 
$$

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1200 PM AKST TUE MAR 8 2011

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...A CLOSED UPPER LEVEL BLOCKING RIDGE
IS PARKED NEAR THE BERING STRAIT WITH CLOSED LOWS SOUTH OF THE
GULF AND OVER THE FAR NORTHWEST PACIFIC. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY
SHOWS A SHORT-WAVE MOVING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN MAINLAND AS IT
MAKES ITS WAY AROUND THE HIGH. THIS IS CONTRIBUTING TO SOME
LOCALIZED GUSTY WINDS...ESPECIALLY THROUGH MOUNTAIN GAPS IN
SOUTHCENTRAL WHERE THE PRESSURE GRADIENT IS RELATIVELY TIGHT
(SUCH AS THROUGH THE MATANUSKA VALLEY). ASIDE FROM THESE WINDS
CONDITIONS ACROSS MOST OF ALASKA ARE QUITE BENIGN. CONDITIONS ARE
HEADED DOWNHILL ALONG THE FAR WESTERN ALEUTIANS WITH A DEEP LOW
BOTTOMING OUT AROUND 965 MB SOUTH OF THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA.
THE FRONTAL SYSTEM WITH THIS LOW IS HEADED NORTH AND EAST TOWARD
THE ALEUTIANS.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...THERE ARE SOME MINOR DIFFERENCES WITH TRACK
OF LOWS FROM THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC TO THE ALEUTIANS THE NEXT FEW
DAYS...BUT ALL SOLUTIONS ARE GROUPED IN THE SAME GENERAL VICINITY.
WILL TREND HEAVILY TOWARD THESE LATEST GROUPINGS...WHICH FOR SOME
MODELS ARE QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS RUNS.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...GAP WINDS WILL DIMINISH A BIT THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING AS THE SHORT-WAVE MOVES SOUTH AND WEST OF THE AREAS AND
THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT LOOSENS. HOWEVER...ANOTHER SHORT-WAVE
WILL DROP ACROSS THE YUKON TONIGHT THEN ACROSS THE EASTERN COPPER
RIVER BASIN SOUTHWARD TO THE GULF ON WEDNESDAY. ARCTIC AIR WILL
ACCOMPANY THE UPPER WAVE RESULTING IN COLD ADVECTION ACROSS
SOUTHCENTRAL...STRONGEST FROM THE COPPER BASIN TO PRINCE WILLIAM
SOUND. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL ALSO TIGHTEN AS A SURFACE HIGH
OVER THE ARCTIC MOVES SOUTHWARD TO INTERIOR ALASKA AND CANADA.
THIS WILL ALL CULMINATE IN AREAS OF STRONG WINDS ESPECIALLY THROUGH
THE MATANUSKA VALLEY AND FROM THOMPSON PASS DOWN INTO VALDEZ.
WINDS WILL THEN GRADUALLY DIMINISH AS WE HEAD TO THURSDAY. UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF THE BLOCKING HIGH TO THE NORTH DRY CONDITIONS
WITH SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES WILL PERSIST ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL
ALASKA.

SOUTHWEST ALASKA/EASTERN BERING SEA...UPPER HIGH WILL SHIFT
A LITTLE SOUTH AND EAST THE NEXT FEW DAYS INTO WESTERN
ALASKA...ENSURING MORE SUNNY DAYS WITH TEMPERATURES NEAR
TO SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL.

WESTERN BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...A SERIES OF LOWS WILL DEVELOP OVER
THE NORTH PACIFIC ALONG THE UPPER JET SOUTH OF THE UPPER CENTER
NEAR THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA. INITIALLY THESE LOWS WILL CURVE
NORTHWARD TOWARD THE ALEUTIANS...BUT OVER TIME THE TROUGH WILL
DIG EASTWARD AND STORMS WILL TAKE MORE OF AN EAST-WEST TRACK
SOUTH OF THE ALEUTIAN CHAIN. MOST OF THE AFFECTS OF THESE SYSTEMS
WILL BE CONFINED TO THE CENTRAL TO WESTERN BERING SEA AND ALEUTIANS
AS THE BLOCKING HIGH KEEPS SYSTEMS FROM MOVING INTO THE EASTERN
BERING.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN VERY QUIET ACROSS MOST
OF ALASKA AS WE HEAD INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS SHOW
THE BLOCKING RIDGE BEGINNING TO WEAKEN ABOUT THAT TIME...BUT STILL
HOLDING OFF ANY MAJOR PATTERN CHANGE. THE STORM TRACK WILL REMAIN
PRIMARILY OVER THE NORTH PACIFIC WITH THE ALEUTIANS RIGHT ALONG
THE PERIPHERY OF THESE SYSTEMS.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...GALE WARNING...127 132 172 175 176.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

SEB MAR 11