Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2011
Gale Warning 931, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Dec 14, 2011, 4:00 PM AKST. 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
- Dec 14, 2011, 4:00 PM AKST (01:00 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 16, 2011, 4:00 AM AKST
- In force
- 36 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
343 FZAK62 PAFC 150024 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 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. PKZ499-151500- 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 948 MB LOW NEAR 51N 167W WILL MOVE TO 56N 165W THU AFTERNOON AT 955 MB. THIS LOW WILL THEN WEAKEN TO 974 MB AS IT MOVES TO 59N 163W FRI AFTERNOON. ANOTHER PACIFIC LOW WILL TRACK TO 51N 179W FRI AFTERNOON AT 979 MB. $$ PKZ411-151500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY... .TONIGHT...N OF 56N...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. ELSEWHERE...SW WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. .THU...N OF 56N...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 22 FT. ELSEWHERE...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. .THU NIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 16 TO 23 FT. .FRI...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT. .FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. .SAT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. .SUN...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. .MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. $$ PKZ412-151500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 ...STORM WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 16 TO 23 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. .THU...NE WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 24 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU NIGHT...N WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 23 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .FRI...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. .FRI NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. .SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. .SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. .MON...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. $$ PKZ413-151500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 ...STORM WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE WIND 40 TO 55 KT BECOMING N 25 TO 40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 17 TO 26 FT. RAIN SHOWERS AND SNOW. .THU...N WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 23 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU NIGHT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. .FRI...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. .FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. .SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. .SUN AD MON...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. $$ PKZ414-151500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 ...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE WIND 50 TO 65 KT. SEAS 20 TO 30 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU...NE WIND 40 TO 50 KT. SEAS 23 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. .THU NIGHT...N WIND 45 KT EXCEPT N 25 KT E OF 167W. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. .FRI...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. .FRI NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. .SAT THROUGH MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. $$
4 follow-up statements
198 FZAK62 PAFC 150638 CCA OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 CORRECTED ZONE 411 OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. PKZ499-151500- 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 948 MB LOW NEAR 51N 167W WILL MOVE TO 56N 165W THU AFTERNOON AT 955 MB. THIS LOW WILL THEN WEAKEN TO 974 MB AS IT MOVES TO 59N 163W FRI AFTERNOON. ANOTHER PACIFIC LOW WILL TRACK TO 51N 179W FRI AFTERNOON AT 979 MB. $$ PKZ411-151500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY... .TONIGHT...N OF 56N...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. ELSEWHERE...SW WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. .THU...N OF 56N...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT. ELSEWHERE...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. .THU NIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 16 TO 23 FT. .FRI...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT. .FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. .SAT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. .SUN...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. .MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. $$ PKZ412-151500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 ...STORM WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 16 TO 23 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. .THU...NE WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 24 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU NIGHT...N WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 23 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .FRI...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. .FRI NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. .SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. .SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. .MON...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. $$ PKZ413-151500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 ...STORM WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE WIND 40 TO 55 KT BECOMING N 25 TO 40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 17 TO 26 FT. RAIN SHOWERS AND SNOW. .THU...N WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 23 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU NIGHT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. .FRI...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. .FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. .SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. .SUN AD MON...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. $$ PKZ414-151500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W 400 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011 ...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE WIND 50 TO 65 KT. SEAS 20 TO 30 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU...NE WIND 40 TO 50 KT. SEAS 23 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. .THU NIGHT...N WIND 45 KT EXCEPT N 25 KT E OF 167W. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. .FRI...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. .FRI NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. .SAT THROUGH MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. $$
510 FZAK62 PAFC 151204 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 400 AM AKST THU DEC 15 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. PKZ499-160300- 400 AM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 944 MB LOW NEAR 54N 165W WILL MOVE TO 56N 163W AT 959 MB THIS EVENING...THEN MOVE TO 60N 165W AT 975 MB FRI EVENING. ANOTHER PACIFIC LOW WILL TRACK TO 50N 178E AT 974 MB FRI MORNING...THEN MOVE TO NEAR 53N 167W EARLY SAT MORNING WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH. $$ PKZ411-160300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE 400 AM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT... .TODAY...N OF 56N...NE WIND 35 KT. S OF 56N...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 TO 20 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. .TONIGHT...N OF 56N...NE WIND 35 KT. S OF 56N...VARIABLE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 21 FT. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 56N. .FRI...NE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 56N. .FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 17 FT. .SAT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. .SUN...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. .MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. $$ PKZ412-160300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N 400 AM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY... .TODAY...NE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 22 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .TONIGHT...N WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 22 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .FRI...N WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .FRI NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. .SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. .SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. .MON...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. $$ PKZ413-160300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N 400 AM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...N WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 23 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .TONIGHT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. .FRI...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT. .FRI NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. .SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. .SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. .MON...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. $$ PKZ414-160300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W 400 AM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY... .TODAY...NE WIND 45 KT WITH GUSTS TO 55 KT. SEAS 23 FT...EXCEPT 15 FT E OF 166W. RAIN AND SNOW. .TONIGHT...W OF 166W...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. E OF 166W...VARIABLE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 57N. .FRI...NW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT...EXCEPT 12 FT E OF 166W. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 56N. .FRI NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. .SAT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. .SUN...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. .MON...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. $$
865 FZAK62 PAFC 160015 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 400 PM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. PKZ499-161500- 400 PM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 955 MB LOW NEAR 56N 164W WILL WEAKEN TO 976 MB AS IT MOVES TO 58N 162W FRI AFTERNOON. THIS LOW WILL THEN DISSIPATE NEAR 59N 170W LATE FRI NIGHT. A 987 MB PACIFIC LOW WILL TRACK TO 50N 178W FRI AFTERNOON AT 970 MB AND THEN MOVE TO 57N 167W SAT AFTERNOON WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH. $$ PKZ411-161500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE 400 PM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...N OF 56N...NE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. S OF 56N...VARIABLE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 16 TO 21 FT. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 56N. .FRI...NE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 14 T0 18 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. .FRI NIGHT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .SAT AND SAT NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. .SUN...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. .MON AND TUE...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. $$ PKZ412-161500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N 400 PM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY... .TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 21 TO 26 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .FRI...N WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .FRI NIGHT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. .SUN...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. .MON...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. .TUE...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. $$ PKZ413-161500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N 400 PM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 .TONIGHT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. .FRI...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT. .FRI NIGHT...E OF 176W...N WIND 25 KT. W OF 176W...VARIABLE 15 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. .SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. .SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. .SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. .MON...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. .TUE...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. $$ PKZ414-161500- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W 400 PM AKST THU DEC 15 2011 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...W OF 166W...N WIND 40 KT. E OF 166W...VARIABLE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 57N. .FRI...NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 57N. .FRI NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 57N. .SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. .SAT NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. .SUN AND MON...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. .TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. $$
904 FZAK62 PAFC 161202 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 400 AM AKST FRI DEC 16 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. PKZ499-170300- 400 AM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 970 MB LOW NEAR 57N 163W WILL MOVE TO 60N 166W AT 979 MB THIS EVENING...THEN DISSIPATE NEAR 61N 170W SAT MORNING. A 973 MB LOW NEAR 50N 176E WILL MOVE TO 56N 167W AT 969 MB SAT MORNING...THEN TRACK TO NEAR 59N 166W EARLY SUN MORNING WITH LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH. $$ PKZ411-170300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE 400 AM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011 .TODAY...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 TO 19 FT. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 56N. .TONIGHT...NE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .SAT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .SAT NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. .SUN...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 FT. .MON AND TUE...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. $$ PKZ412-170300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N 400 AM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011 .TODAY...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .TONIGHT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .SAT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. .SUN TO MON...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. .TUE...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. $$ PKZ413-170300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N 400 AM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011 .TODAY...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 19 FT. .TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY W OF 176W. .SAT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. .SUN...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. .MON...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. .TUE...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. $$ PKZ414-170300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W 400 AM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011 .TODAY...NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT BECOMING E 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. .SAT...E WIND 25 KT BECOMING NW IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 5 TO 9 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS. .SAT NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. .SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. .MON...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. .TUE...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 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 Dec 14, 12:30 PM AKST, 3 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 14, 12:30 PM AKST, 3 hours 30 minutes before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1230 PM AKST WED DEC 14 2011
.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS TWO POWERFUL
SYSTEMS APPROACHING THE ALEUTIANS AND ALASKA PENINSULA. THE FIRST
LOW WHICH DEVELOPED OVER THE NORTH PACIFIC YESTERDAY IS NOW ABOUT
250 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF DUTCH HARBOR WITH AN ESTIMATED CENTRAL
PRESSURE AROUND 955 MB. AS UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CONTINUED TO DIG
SOUTHEASTWARD OVERNIGHT THE TROUGH BECAME NEGATIVELY TILTED AND
FORCED THIS LOW TO TRACK NORTHWESTWARD. THIS MOTION IS SLOWING
AND EXPECT THE LOW TO STALL SOMETIME SOON. MEANWHILE A SECOND LOW
DEVELOPED AT THE BASE OF THE TROUGH AND AT THE HEAD OF A STRONG
UPPER JET. THIS LOW IS MARGINALLY WEAKER AND IS TRACKING NORTHWARD.
AS THE JET CONTINUES EASTWARD THIS LOW WILL ALSO BEGIN TO CURVE BACK
TOWARD THE NORTHWEST AND WILL INTERACT WITH THE FIRST LOW...LIKELY
CONSOLIDATING INTO A SINGLE LOW. THE FORECAST CHALLENGE OF THE DAY
IS FIGURING OUT WHEN AND WHERE THESE LOWS WILL MERGE. THIS WILL
HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON THE WIND FORECAST FROM COLD BAY TO
DUTCH HARBOR. FOR NOW...HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE IN PLACE FOR THE
SOUTHERN ALASKA PENINSULA AND EASTERN ALEUTIANS AND WINDS ARE
RAPIDLY INCREASING THIS MORNING.
LOOKING DOWNSTREAM FROM THIS SYSTEM A WEAK TRIPLE POINT LOW WHICH
FORMED YESTERDAY SOUTH OF KODIAK ISLAND IS NOW DISSIPATING EAST OF
KODIAK ISLAND AS UPPER LEVEL SHORT-WAVE IS MOVING QUICKLY ACROSS
THE GULF. THIS TROUGH IS PRODUCING AREAS OF LIGHT SNOW FROM PRINCE
WILLIAM SOUND TO THE COPPER BASIN. A BAND OF SNOW ALSO DEVELOPED
NEAR ANCHORAGE THIS MORNING AND HAS BEEN TRACKING NORTH AND WEST
INTO THE SOUTHERN SUSITNA VALLEY. IT APPEARS THAT LOW LEVEL
ISENTROPIC LIFT IS COMBINING WITH A SHORT-WAVE TO THE NORTH (WHICH
IS JUST BARELY CLIPPING THIS AREA) TO PRODUCE THIS BAND OF SNOW.
THE AREA OF LIFT WILL HEAD UP THE SUSITNA VALLEY SO EXPECT SNOW
TO DIMINISH IN THE SOUTH THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS AND SPREAD TO
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE VALLEY.
.MODEL DISCUSSION...THE ECMWF IS VERIFYING BEST WITH THE TWO LOWS
OUT WEST AND IS THE PREFERRED MODEL WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THESE
SYSTEMS. THE NAM IS NOT CARRYING THE SECOND LOW...BUT ONCE LOWS
MERGE INTO ONE THE TRACK IS SIMILAR TO THE ECMWF. THEREFORE...WILL
MAKE USE OF BOTH THE ECMWF AND NAM TO MAKE FORECAST ADJUSTMENTS.
.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...THE FRONTAL SYSTEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOWS
OUT WEST WILL MOVE INTO THE GULF TONIGHT AND THEN RAPIDLY WEAKEN
AS IT MOVES ONSHORE OF THE NORTH GULF COAST THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
WITH THE PARENT LOW REMAINING BACK OVER THE EASTERN BERING AND
THE UPPER TROUGH CONTINUING TO BUILD EASTWARD THE UPPER LEVEL
ENERGY WILL BECOME MUCH WEAKER AS IT REACHES SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA.
THEREFORE...EXPECT MOST OF THE PRECIP TO BE FOCUSED ALONG THE FRONT
AND TO BE FAIRLY SHORT-LIVED. THE PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND REGION WILL
SEE THE HEAVIEST PRECIP RIGHT AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH. AS IS
TYPICAL EASTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND WILL SEE A PERIOD OF HEAVY
PRECIPITATION ONCE WINDS SHIFT TO SOUTHERLY BEHIND THE FRONT
CREATING UPSLOPE FLOW. THE UPPER TROUGH WILL EXIT THURSDAY NIGHT
INTO FRIDAY MORNING...BUT ANOTHER WEAK UPPER WAVE WILL MOVE INTO
THE GULF FRIDAY BRINGING A GOOD SHOT OF PRECIP TO MAINLY COASTAL
AREAS LATE FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF
UNCERTAINTY IN THE DETAILS OF THIS BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT
LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE WEAK AND DISORGANIZED SO DO NOT EXPECT ANY
SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS.
SOUTHWEST ALASKA...STRONG FRONT WILL MAKE ITS WAY INTO BRISTOL BAY
LATE TONIGHT AND THEN RAPIDLY WEAKEN AS IT MOVES NORTHWARD DURING
THE DAY THURSDAY. THE BRISTOL BAY REGION WILL SEE THE HIGHEST IMPACT
WITH STRONG EASTERLY WINDS. THESE WINDS WILL COMBINE BRIEFLY WITH
SNOW RIGHT ALONG THE FRONT TO PRODUCE LOW VISIBILITIES IN BLOWING
SNOW. VISIBILITIES MAY VERY BRIEFLY REACH WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS BUT
DO NOT EXPECT THESE CONDITIONS TO LAST LONG ENOUGH TO WARRANT A
BLIZZARD WARNING. WITH EASTERLY FLOW ANY PRECIP THAT FALLS ALONG
THE ALASKA PENINSULA AND ALEUTIAN RANGE WILL BE ON THE LIGHT SIDE.
THE MORE INTENSE SNOW WILL FALL ACROSS AREAS NORTH AND WEST OF KING
SALMON. BY THE TIME THE FRONT REACHES THE KUSKOKWIM VALLEY AND
KUSKOKWIM DELTA EXPECT SNOW TO BE VERY LIGHT SO BLOWING SNOW SHOULD
NOT BE A HUGE PROBLEM...ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE SOME VISIBILITY
REDUCTION ALONG THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA COAST. AFTER THIS FRONT MOVE
THE THREAT OF SHOWERS WILL PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AS
WEAK UPPER LEVEL FEATURES MOVE ACROSS THE REGION...BUT EXPECT MOST
AREA WILL REMAIN ON THE DRY SIDE.
BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR AHEAD OF THE
FRONT THIS ALONG THE SOUTHERN ALASKA PENINSULA AND EASTERN ALEUTIANS.
HOWEVER...AS THE LOW CROSSES THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS TONIGHT AND DRIFTS
INTO THE EASTERN BERING FRIDAY STRONG SOUTHERLIES WILL PERSIST ALONG
THE PENINSULA. WINDS WILL DROP OFF BEHIND THE FRONT BUT WILL THEN
INCREASE BY MORNING. THE CURRENT HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE ALASKA
PENINSULA GOES THROUGH 5 AM THURSDAY BUT WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER
EXTENDING ADJUSTING THIS. WILL WAIT UNTIL MORE MODEL RUNS COME IN
TO SEE IF THERE IS BETTER AGREEMENT IN THE TRACK OF THIS LOW BEFORE
MAKING ANY CHANGES TO THE EXISTING WARNING. THE LOW WILL RAPIDLY
WEAKEN THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY SO WINDS WILL COME DOWN QUICKLY
DURING THIS PERIOD. MEANWHILE ANOTHER PACIFIC SYSTEM WILL MOVE TO
THE WESTERN TO CENTRAL ALEUTIANS THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. ALTHOUGH
THE CENTRAL PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO DROP INTO THE 970S THE PRESSURE
ACROSS THE REGION WILL ALREADY BE QUITE LOW ACROSS THE REGION SO
WINDS WILL NOT BE AS MUCH AS THEY WOULD BE OTHERWISE.
.LONG TERM FORECAST...A TROUGH CENTERED OVER THE BERING WITH STRONG
UPPER JET ACROSS THE NORTH PACIFIC AND NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD MAINLAND
ALASKA WILL MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE PATTERN THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD.
FORECAST CONFIDENCE IN TIMING AND LOCATION OF INDIVIDUAL SYSTEMS IS
LOW.
.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...HIGH WIND WARNING 181 185.
MARINE...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING...155 165 170.
STORM WARNING...150 160 171 172 179.
GALE WARNING...120 125 130 132 138 175 180 185.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING...180 185.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.
SEB DEC 11The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 14, 4:00 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 14 hr | |
| Dec 14, 4:00 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 6 days | |
| Dec 14, 4:00 PM AKST | Hurricane Force Wind Warning | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Dec 14, 4:00 PM AKST | Hurricane Force Wind Warning | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Dec 14, 4:00 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 60 hr | |
| Dec 14, 4:00 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 8 days | |
| Dec 14, 4:00 PM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Dec 15, 4:00 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Dec 15, 4:00 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Dec 15, 4:00 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 4 days | |
| Dec 15, 4:00 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Dec 15, 4:00 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Dec 15, 6:25 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 10 hr | |
| Dec 15, 7:16 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 9 hr |
Nearby
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.