Gale Warning 919, NWS Anchorage, AK

385 
FZAK62 PAFC 080043
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST WED DEC 7 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.

PKZ499-081500-
400 PM AKST WED DEC 7 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 970 MB LOW NEAR 60N 178W WILL MOVE NEAR THE BERING STRAIT AT 990 MB
THU NIGHT. A 981 MB LOW NEAR 51N 167E THU AFTERNOON WILL MOVE TO 56N
174E AT 965 MB FRI AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST WED DEC 7 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 15 TO 18 FT. FREEZING SPRAY N OF
56N. 
.THU...S TO W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 56N
DURING THE MORNING. 
.THU NIGHT...S TO E WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 29 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 15 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST WED DEC 7 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...W WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT BECOMING S AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 15 FT.
RAIN.
.FRI...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 36 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 20 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST WED DEC 7 2011

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 14 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 14 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 16 FT. RAIN.
.FRI...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 31 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 19 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST WED DEC 7 2011

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...S TO W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 11 TO 15 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 16 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 25 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 20 FT.  

$$

323 
FZAK62 PAFC 081200
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST THU DEC 8 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.

PKZ499-090300-
400 AM AKST THU DEC 8 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 977 MB LOW AT 61N 174W WILL MOVE TO 66N 166W LATE THU NIGHT AND
WEAKEN TO 993 MB THEN INTO THE CHUKCHI SEA BY FRI AFTERNOON. A 975 
MB LOW AT 51N 165E THIS AFTERNOON WILL MOVE TO 56N 178E BY LATE FRI
NIGHT AND DEEPEN TO 961 MB. A 959 MB LOW WILL DEVELOP NEAR 60N 177E
LATE FRI NIGHT.

$$

PKZ411-090300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKST THU DEC 8 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 30 KT...EXCEPT S 25 KT S OF 56N. SEAS 10 TO 14 FT.
FREEZING SPRAY N OF 56N. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.FRI...S WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 16 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 25 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-090300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST THU DEC 8 2011

...GALE WARNING TODAY AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 28 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 28 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 23 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-090300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST THU DEC 8 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 12 TO 16 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 29 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 20 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-090300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKST THU DEC 8 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. RAIN.
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 22 FT.  

$$

746 
FZAK62 PAFC 090034
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST THU DEC 8 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.

PKZ499-091500-
400 PM AKST THU DEC 8 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 985 MB LOW NEAR 63N 170W WILL MOVE TO INTO THE CHUKCHI SEA EARLY
FRI. A 975 MB LOW NEAR 51N 164E WILL MOVE TO 59N 175E AND STRENGTHEN
TO 948 MB FRI NIGHT. IT WILL THEN MAINTAIN STRENGTH AND REMAIN NEARLY
STATIONARY THROUGH SAT.

$$

PKZ411-091500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST THU DEC 8 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S TO E WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.FRI...S WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.FRI NIGHT...W WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 17 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SAT...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 25 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-091500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST THU DEC 8 2011

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S TO W WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.FRI...S TO E WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 40 TO 50 KT. SEAS 19 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 30 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 30 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-091500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST THU DEC 8 2011

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. RAIN.
.FRI...S WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 40 TO 50 KT. SEAS 22 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 29 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT AND SUN...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 30 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-091500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST THU DEC 8 2011

...STORM WARNING FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 30 KT INCREASING TO 40 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
11 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 40 TO 50 KT. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN. 
.SAT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 23 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT.  

$$

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST TUE DEC 6 2011

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE GULF OF
ALASKA THAT EXTENDS NORTHWARD OVER SOUTH CENTRAL INTO THE INTERIOR IS
AMPLIFYING AND DRIFTING EASTWARD TODAY. THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH IN THE
WESTERN BERING SEA WILL REMAIN GENERALLY IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT FEW
DAYS. THIS WILL KEEP THE 250 MB JET STREAM OVER THE AREA THROUGH THE
END OF THE WEEK. THE SURFACE FEATURES REFLECT THE UPPER LEVEL PATTERN
WITH A RIDGE OFF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE INTERIOR AND SOUTH CENTRAL
ALASKA AND A LARGE LOW IN THE BERING SEA.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...MODELS REMAIN IN GOOD AGREEMENT THE NEXT FEW
DAYS. THERE IS A BIT OF A BREAKDOWN IN THE UPPER LEVEL FEATURES OVER
THE WEEKEND THAT WILL HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THE FORECAST THOUGH THE
OVERALL LONG WAVE PATTERN REMAINS CONSISTENT.
IN THE SHORT TERM THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS BETWEEN MODELS WEDNESDAY
NIGHT INTO THURSDAY AS THERE WILL BE A TRIPLE POINT LOW THAT DEVELOPS
ALONG THE NORTH GULF COAST. THE MOVEMENT OF THIS LOW WILL HAVE A BIT
OF AN IMPACT ON THE SOUTH CENTRAL AND GULF COAST FORECASTS.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...THE MOST SEVERE WEATHER IN THE FORECAST AREA
TODAY HAS BEEN IN THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA WHICH HAS BEEN UNDER A BLIZZARD
WARNING TODAY. THE TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING UP QUICKLY SO IT MAY END
UP BEING CANCELED EARLY AND NOT RUNNING THROUGH THE NIGHT. ONCE
TEMPERATURES WARM UP ABOVE FREEZING IN THAT AREA THEY SHOULD REMAIN
THERE AS WARM ADVECTION WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT. IN FACT THE
ENTIRE EASTERN BERING SEA REGION INCLUDING THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS AND
ALASKA PENINSULA AND BRISTOL BAY AREA WILL SEE MILD TEMPERATURES
OVERNIGHT IN THIS WARM ADVECTION AND WIND. THE WIND WILL KEEP THE
LOWER ATMOSPHERE WELL MIXED AND PREVENT STEEP INVERSIONS FROM SETTING
UP OVERNIGHT AND THEREFORE KEEP TEMPERATURES WARMER.
SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA WILL SEE INCREASING CLOUDS TONIGHT WITH
PRECIPITATION MOVING INTO MOST GULF COASTAL REGIONS AND ALONG THE
ALASKA RANGE BY MORNING. WINDS WIND INCREASE ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND
DOWN COOK INLET TOMORROW AND EASE UP SOME TOMORROW NIGHT. THIS WILL
BRING A BRIEF SHOT OF SNOW TO THE COOK INLET REGION EARLY WEDNESDAY
BEFORE THE WINDS KICK IN AND DOWNSLOPE TAKES OVER. AS WINDS DIMINISH
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SNOW WILL BECOME LIKELY IN THE ANCHORAGE AND MATSU
AREAS.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...THE EXTENDED FORECAST LOOKS MUCH LIKE THE
CURRENT PATTERN. THERE WILL BE CONTINUED LARGE SCALE TROUGHING IN THE
BERING WITH RIDGING FROM THE GULF OF ALASKA THROUGH THE INTERIOR.
STORM TRACKS FAVORED IN THIS REGIME ARE ONES THAT DEVELOP NORTHERN
PACIFIC LOWS THAT MIGRATE INTO THE BERING SEA WITH ASSOCIATED FRONTS
AND TRIPLE POINT LOWS PROGRESSING EASTWARD OVER THE MAINLAND.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WARNING 155.
MARINE...GALE 130 132 138 140 150 155 160 165 170 172 175 176 179 180
185. STORM 120. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 185.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

DEC 11