Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2011

Gale Warning 317, NWS Anchorage, AK

April 20, 2011

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Apr 20, 2011, 4:00 PM AKDT. It was in force for 36 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
Apr 20, 2011, 4:00 PM AKDT (00:00 UTC)
Expired
Apr 22, 2011, 4:00 AM AKDT
In force
36 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

968 
FZAK62 PAFC 202355
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKDT WED APR 20 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.

PKZ499-211500-
400 PM AKDT WED APR 20 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
HIGH PRESSURE PERSISTS OVER THE NORTHERN BERING THROUGH WED NIGHT. A
985 MB LOW NEAR 47N 169W MOVES TO 51N 163W AT 983 MB THURSDAY NIGHT. 

$$

PKZ411-211500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKDT WED APR 20 2011

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.THU AND THU NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.SUN AND MON...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 

$$

PKZ412-211500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKDT WED APR 20 2011

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.SUN...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-211500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKDT WED APR 20 2011

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU AND THU NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN AND MON...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 

$$

PKZ414-211500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKDT WED APR 20 2011

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT.
.THU NIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT.  

$$
3 follow-up statements
742 
FZAK62 PAFC 211158
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKDT THU APR 21 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.

PKZ499-220300-
400 AM AKDT THU APR 21 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
HIGH PRESSURE PERSISTS OVER THE NORTHERN BERING THROUGH WED 
NIGHT. A 979 MB LOW NEAR 49N 168W MOVES TO 51N 158W AT 977 MB
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-220300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKDT THU APR 21 2011

.TODAY...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TONIGHT AND FRI...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.SUN...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-220300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKDT THU APR 21 2011

.TODAY...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT AND FRI...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.SUN AND MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 

$$

PKZ413-220300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKDT THU APR 21 2011

.TODAY...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TONIGHT AND FRI...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-220300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKDT THU APR 21 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT AND FRI...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT.  

$$
015 
FZAK62 PAFC 212343
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKDT THU APR 21 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.

PKZ499-221500-
400 PM AKDT THU APR 21 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 977 MB LOW NEAR 51N 167W MOVES TO 55N 155W AT 979 MB SAT 
AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-221500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKDT THU APR 21 2011

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-221500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKDT THU APR 21 2011

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-221500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKDT THU APR 21 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.FRI...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SAT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-221500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKDT THU APR 21 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT.
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.SAT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. 
.TUE...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT.  

$$
382 
FZAK62 PAFC 221148
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKDT FRI APR 22 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.

PKZ499-230300-
400 AM AKDT FRI APR 22 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 977 MB LOW NEAR 51N 165W MOVES TO 56N 156W AT 982 MB SUN MORNING.
A 1006 MB LOW MOVES FROM 58N 176E SATURDAY AFTERNOON TO 56N 177W AT
997 MB BY SUNDAY MORNING.

$$

PKZ411-230300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKDT FRI APR 22 2011

.TODAY...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-230300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKDT FRI APR 22 2011

.TODAY...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-230300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKDT FRI APR 22 2011

.TODAY...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SAT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-230300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKDT FRI APR 22 2011

.TODAY...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.SAT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT.  

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this gale 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 gale warning went out at Apr 20, 2:00 PM AKDT, 2 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 20, 2:00 PM AKDT, 2 hours before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
200 PM AKDT WED APR 20 2011

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THROUGH FRI MORNING THEN DIVERGE ON
SOLUTIONS. THE MAIN ISSUE IS WITH THE MOVEMENT THE LOW COMPLEX SOUTH
OF THE AK PEN. THE GFS SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENT THAN THE
ECMWF WHICH TOOK A SIGNIFICANT JUMP TO THE NORTH WITH LOW CENTER ON
THE 12Z RUN. OVERALL WILL BE LEANING TOWARD THE NAM FOR MESOSCALE
WIND FORECASTS (EXCELLENT HANDLING OF WINDS OVER THE WESTERN GULF AND
SOUTHCENTRAL) IN THE FIRST 48 HRS OR SO...THEN WILL BLEND CURRENT
GRIDS WITH THE GFS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 84 HRS.

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
THE UPPER LEVELS SHOW A LOW SOUTH OF SHEMYA AS WELL AS ANOTHER LOW
SOUTH OF DUTCH HARBOR. THERE IS A LOW NORTH OF PRUDHOE BAY...WITH A
TROUGH EXTENDING SOUTHWESTWARD INTO SOUTHWEST ALASKA. HIGH PRESSURE
IS KEEPING ITS HOLD OVER MOST OF THE BERING. THE MAIN LOW AT THE
SURFACE IS SOUTH OF DUTCH HARBOR...ALTHOUGH THERE IS ALSO A WEAK LOW
OVER THE KENAI PENINSULA AS WELL. BROAD SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE LIES
OVER SIBERIA EASTWARD THROUGH NORTHERN ALASKA.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
SOUTHCENTRAL...TROUGH EXTENDS ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA AND A WEAK
LOW PRESSURE CENTER IS OVER THE NORTH GULF JUST SOUTH OF PRINCE
WILLIAM SOUND. THE MORNING SOUNDINGS OVER FAIRBANKS AND ANCHORAGE
SHOWED A MOISTENING IN THE LOW AND MID LEVELS OVERNIGHT. SHOWERS ARE
ALSO EVIDENT OVER THE NORTH GULF. SHOULD CONTINUE TO SEE INCREASING
CLOUDS AND SHOWERS (RAIN COASTS) OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WITH
THE INTRUSION OF MOISTURE FROM FRONTAL SYSTEMS APPROACHING THE GULF
OF ALASKA. ALSO WILL SEE INCREASING PRESSURE GRADIENTS WHICH WILL
GENERATE BRISK AND GUSTY GAP FLOWS AND BRISK WINDS ACROSS THE GULF OF
ALASKA.

SOUTHWEST...
A BROAD BAND OF STRATUS AND FOG OVER BRISTOL BAY...WHICH BROUGHT
DENSE FOG ALONG THE COASTS...HAS LIFTED SOME THIS AFTERNOON. EXPECT
COASTAL LOCATIONS MAY SEE ANOTHER EPISODE TONIGHT WITH GENERALLY
LIGHT WINDS ACROSS THE REGION. FOG SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM ALONG THE
NORTHERN AND EASTERN GUSTS AS NORTHERLY FLOW SETS UP OVER BRISTOL BAY
THU.

ALEUTIANS/EASTERN BERING SEA...THE LOW PASSING SOUTH OF THE ALEUTIANS
AND AK PEN THU AND FRI WILL PRODUCE GUSTY EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS
OVER MUCH OF THE ALEUTIANS AND EASTERN BERING SEA OVER THE NEXT DAY
OR SO.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...
THE RAIN AND SNOW SHOWER CHANCES WILL CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF THE AREA
THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. WHILE CONFIDENCE IS MODERATE TO HIGH FOR
THE END OF THE WEEK...CONFIDENCE DECREASES BY THE WEEKEND...WHEN
MODEL DIFFERENCES ARE GREATEST.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...GALES 155 165 170 172 414.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

RMC APR 11

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 20, 4:00 PM AKDTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFC60 hr
Apr 20, 4:00 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC4 days
Apr 20, 4:00 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Apr 20, 4:00 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC63 hr
Apr 20, 4:00 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC5 days
Apr 20, 4:00 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Apr 21, 4:00 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC3 days
Apr 21, 4:00 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Apr 21, 4:00 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC51 hr
Apr 21, 4:00 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Apr 21, 4:00 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Apr 21, 4:00 AM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC24 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2011Every gale warning in 2011

Sources

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