Gale Warning 542, NWS Anchorage, AK

Issued

Aug 2, 2011, 7:45 AM AKDT (15:45 UTC)

Expired

Aug 2, 2011, 7:00 PM AKDT

In force

11 hr

Issued by

NWS Anchorage, AK

679 
FZAK52 PAFC 021550 AAA
CWFALU

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE ALASKA
745 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

UPDATED ZONES 170 171 185

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE
ALASKA PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS UP TO 100 NM OUT.

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.

PKZ199-030300-
400 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS...
HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE ALEUTIANS WILL WEAKEN THROUGH TUE EVENING. A
995 MB LOW WILL FORM 55 NM SOUTHEAST OF CHIGNIK TUE MORNING AND MOVE
SLOWLY INTO THE WESTERN GULF BY WED MORNING. A SIBERIAN LOW WILL MOVE
TO 210 NM WEST OF SAINT LAWRENCE ISLAND TUE EVENING AND STRENGTHEN TO
977 MB 150 NM NORTH OF NUNIVAK ISLAND LATE WED NIGHT. 

$$

PKZ150-030300-
COASTAL WATERS SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA SITKINAK TO CASTLE
CAPE
400 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 35 KT OUT OF BAYS AND PASSES. SEAS 8
FT. 
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ155-030300-
COASTAL WATERS SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA CASTLE CAPE TO CAPE
SARICHEF
400 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ160-030300-
BRISTOL BAY WATERS CAPE NEWENHAM TO PORT HEIDEN
400 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. PATCHY FOG. SHOWERS.
.WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.  

$$

PKZ165-030300-
PORT HEIDEN TO CAPE SARICHEF
400 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT.  

$$

PKZ180-030300-
SOUTHWEST ALASKA WATERS CAPE NEWENHAM TO DALL POINT
400 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. AREAS OF FOG. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 8 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ170-030300-
EASTERN ALEUTIANS CAPE SARICHEF TO NIKOLSKI
745 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TODAY AND WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ171-030300-
UNALASKA BAY
745 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

.TODAY...NW WIND 15 KT. GUSTS TO 25 KT IN THE MORNING. 
SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 15 KT BECOMING W 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. 
SEAS 2 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...W WIND 10 KT BECOMING SW 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
SEAS 2 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.  

$$

PKZ172-030300-
EASTERN ALEUTIANS NIKOLSKI TO ADAK
400 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ175-030300-
WESTERN ALEUTIANS ADAK TO KISKA
400 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

.TODAY...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. AREAS OF FOG. 
.WED NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ176-030300-
WESTERN ALEUTIANS KISKA TO ATTU
400 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

.TODAY...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 4 FT. AREAS OF FOG. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. AREAS OF FOG. 
.WED NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.THU...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ185-030300-
ST MATTHEW ISLAND WATERS
745 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT BECOMING SW 25 KT W OF SAINT MATTHEW
ISLAND LATE THIS AFTERNOON. SEAS 4 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. RAIN. 
.WED...NW WIND 35 KT INCREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
SEAS 12 FT. PATCHY FOG. SHOWERS.
.WED NIGHT...NW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ179-030300-
PRIBILOF ISLANDS NEAR-SHORE WATERS
400 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. AREAS OF FOG. 
.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.WED NIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Aug 2, 5:00 AM AKDT, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
500 AM AKDT TUE AUG 2 2011

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
THE UPPER LEVEL PATTERN FEATURES A LARGE AND HIGHLY AMPLIFIED TROUGH
ENCOMPASSING MUCH OF THE STATE...WITH THE MEAN TROUGH AXIS LOCATED
OVER WESTERN ALASKA. A QUICK LOOK AT SATELLITE IMAGERY REVEALS ENERGY
FROM AN UPPER LEVEL WAVE OUT WEST HAS BEEN PULLED INTO THE BROAD
LONGWAVE TROUGH AND IS HELPING TO SPIN UP A CLOSED UPPER LOW SOUTH OF
THE ALASKA PENINSULA...WITH A CORRESPONDING SURFACE LOW SHOWING SIGNS
OF DEVELOPMENT AS WELL. AHEAD OF THIS DEVELOPING LOW A BROAD AREA OF
LIFT AND SOUTHERLY FLOW IS COMBINING WITH AMPLE ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE
TO CREATE WIDESPREAD LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN ACROSS MOST OF
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA THIS MORNING. A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT CONTINUES
ALONG THE NORTH GULF COAST...WITH WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH
CONTINUING TO OCCUR IN PARTS OF TURNAGAIN ARM. FURTHER
WEST...NORTHWEST FLOW IS INVADING MOST OF THE BERING SEA WITH CHILLY
ARCTIC AIR.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
MAJOR MODELS ARE IN REASONABLE AGREEMENT WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THE
MAJOR FEATURES AFFECTING THE STATE OF ALASKA OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
DAYS. SOME DISCREPANCIES ARE NOTED IN THE TIMING OF THE CURRENT UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH OVER WESTERN ALASKA AS IT MOVES OFF TO THE EAST ON
THURSDAY...HOWEVER THIS WILL HAVE ONLY MINOR IMPACTS ON THE FORECAST
FOR SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA. WITH ALL MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT...THE
NAM WAS CHOSEN FOR ITS SUPERIOR RESOLUTION AND HANDLING OF
TERRAIN-INFLUENCED FEATURES SUCH AS THE NORTH GULF COAST BARRIER JET
AND STRONG WINDS IN TURNAGAIN ARM.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...
STEADY RAIN WILL AFFECT MOST OF THE AREA THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE ONLY
EXCEPTION WILL BE THE COPPER RIVER BASIN WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE
PROTECTED BY THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAIN RANGES. AS VERTICALLY STACKED
LOW PRESSURE GETS ORGANIZED SOUTHWEST OF KODIAK ISLAND
TODAY...ABUNDANT MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM NORTHWARD INTO THE
REGION. WINDS ALONG THE NORTH GULF COAST AND THROUGH TURNAGAIN ARM
SHOULD DROP A BIT DURING THE DAY TODAY WHILE GRADIENT RELAXES
SLIGHTLY. DEVELOPING LOW WILL SPIN A FRONT TOWARD THE NORTH GULF
COAST TONIGHT WHICH WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE WINDS ONCE AGAIN IN
TURNAGAIN ARM AND OTHER FAVORED AREAS. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH
WARNING LEVEL BY MID EVENING IN EAST AND WEST TURNAGAIN
ARM...CREATING VERY HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS BETWEEN ANCHORAGE
AND THE KENAI PENINSULA. HIGH WIND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITH THE
MORNING FORECAST PACKAGE. OF NOTE...THE DEVELOPING BARRIER JET ALONG
THE COAST WILL EXTEND INTO PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND...BRINGING NEAR-STORM
FORCE WINDS TO MANY LOCATIONS NOT USED TO SUCH CONDITIONS THIS TIME
OF YEAR. MEANWHILE...HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE OVER WESTERN PRINCE
WILLIAM SOUND AS MIDLEVEL WINDS BACK AROUND TO BECOME MORE EASTERLY
AND ONSHORE THIS EVENING.  AS THIS HAPPENS...A CLASSIC DOWNSLOPING
PATTERN SHOULD DEVELOP IN THE LEE OF THE MOUNTAINS FROM THE WESTERN
KENAI THROUGH ANCHORAGE AND UP TO THE MAT-SU VALLEY.

SOUTHWEST ALASKA...BERING SEA...ALEUTIANS...
MOST OF THE REGION WILL SEE CONTINUED NORTHWEST WINDS AND RELATIVELY
DRY CONDITIONS THROUGH TONIGHT. THE ONE EXCEPTION WILL BE EASTERN
SECTIONS OF BRISTOL BAY AND THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA WHERE STEADY RAIN
WILL FALL AS THE STORM TAKING SHAPE SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA
HUGS THE MOUNTAINS AND MOVES THROUGH SHELIKOF STRAIT TONIGHT. THIS
RAIN WILL COME TO AN END BY WEDNESDAY MORNING AS THE STORM MOVES OFF
TO THE NORTHEAST. HOWEVER...WEDNESDAY MORNING ANOTHER LOW WILL DROP
INTO THE NORTHERN BERING FROM SIBERIA...BRINGING A SHOT OF WIDESPREAD
RAIN TO SOUTHWEST ALASKA BY WEDNESDAY EVENING AS WELL AS USHERING IN
SOME VERY CHILLY AIR FROM THE ARCTIC. SOME LOCATIONS WILL LIKELY SEE
OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES DROP INTO THE 30S BEHIND THIS LOW ON THURSDAY
AND FRIDAY NIGHTS. THIS LOW WILL ALSO SPREAD AN AREA OF GALE FORCE
WESTERLY WINDS ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN BERING AS IT MOVES TO
THE SOUTHEAST.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...
LONGWAVE TROUGH TO STAY IN PLACE OVER THE BERING SEA AND MUCH OF THE
STATE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. A PARADE OF LOWS WILL CONTINUE IN
THE NORTHERN BERING SEA...SENDING WAVES OF WIDESPREAD RAIN ACROSS
MUCH OF SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA. THERE WILL LIKELY BE A DAY
OF SUNSHINE HERE OR THERE...BUT OVERALL CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN CLOUDY
AND COOL THROUGH AT LEAST NEXT WEEKEND.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...HIGH WIND WARNING 101 125
MARINE...GALE 120 125 128 129 179 180
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

DIXON AUG 11

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2011Every gale warning in 2011

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