Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2011

Gale Warning 995, NWS Anchorage, AK

December 16, 2011

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Dec 16, 2011, 4:00 PM AKST. It was in force for 24 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 16, 2011, 4:00 PM AKST (01:00 UTC)
Expired
Dec 17, 2011, 4:00 PM AKST
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

880 
FZAK51 PAFC 170027
CWFAER

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE ALASKA
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA COAST
UP TO 100 NM OUT INCLUDING KODIAK ISLAND AND COOK INLET.

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.

PKZ197-171500-
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST+KODIAK ISLAND WATERS+
COOK INLET...

A FRONT WILL APPROACH THE WESTERN GULF SAT MORNING AND TRACK TO
THE NORTHEASTERN GULF SAT EVENING. A SECOND STRONGER FRONT
ASSOCIATED WITH A 965 MB LOW WILL MOVE INTO THE WESTERN GULF LATE
SAT NIGHT AND APPROACH THE GULF COAST BY SUN AFTERNOON. THE 965 MB
NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL MOVE INLAND OVER THE ALASKA PENINSULA SUN
MORNING.

$$

PKZ120-171500-
CAPE SUCKLING TO GORE POINT
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT BECOMING SE 40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
18 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SUN...SE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.WED...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 FT.  

$$

PKZ121-171500-
RESURRECTION BAY
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011

.TONIGHT...S WIND 20 KT BECOMING N 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
3 FT. HIGHER SEAS S OF CAINES HEAD. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SAT...VARIABLE WIND LESS THAN 10 KT BECOMING S 15 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 FT. HIGHER WINDS AND SEAS S OF CAINES HEAD. SNOW
AND RAIN. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. HIGHER WINDS AND SEAS S OF
CAINES HEAD. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SUN...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT BECOMING N WIND 25 KT BY THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 5 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT BECOMING S 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 FT.

.MON...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.TUE...VARIABLE WIND LESS THAN 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.WED...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.  

$$

PKZ125-171500-
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 KT INCREASING TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 4
FT BUILDING TO 6 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.WED...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT.  

$$

PKZ129-171500-
PASSAGE CANAL
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.SAT...E WIND 10 KT INCREASING TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 FT.
SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 3 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SUN...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.MON...VARIABLE WIND LESS THAN 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.TUE...E WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.WED...VARIABLE WIND LESS THAN 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.  

$$

PKZ130-171500-
BARREN ISLANDS AND KAMISHAK BAY WATERS
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT EXCEPT 6 FT W OF THE BARREN
ISLANDS. 
.SAT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT BECOMING SE 40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 17
FT EXCEPT 11 FT W OF THE BARREN ISLANDS. RAIN SHOWERS AND SNOW. 
.SUN...S WIND 50 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT BECOMING SW 40 KT BY MIDNIGHT. SEAS 18 FT.

.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.WED...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ132-171500-
SHUYAK ISLAND TO SITKINAK
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT BECOMING SE 45 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
19 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...SW WIND 50 KT. SEAS 23 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.WED...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 16 FT.  

$$

PKZ138-171500-
SHELIKOF STRAIT
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 8 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT BECOMING SE 45 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
11 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 45 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.WED...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.  

$$

PKZ140-171500-
COOK INLET NORTH OF KAMISHAK BAY AND ENGLISH BAY
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS IN
ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT SUBSIDING TO 3 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SAT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. RAIN AND
SNOW. 
.SUN...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT. 
.TUE AND WED...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT.   

$$

PKZ141-171500-
KACHEMAK BAY
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 16 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT BECOMING SW 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 5 FT.
.SAT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT BUILDING TO 8 FT IN THE AFTERNOON.
RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT BECOMING NE 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 8
FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.WED...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT.  

$$
2 follow-up statements
275 
FZAK51 PAFC 171213
CWFAER

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE ALASKA
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA COAST
UP TO 100 NM OUT INCLUDING KODIAK ISLAND AND COOK INLET.

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.

PKZ197-180300-
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST+KODIAK ISLAND WATERS+
COOK INLET...
A FRONT NEARING THE WESTERN GULF THIS MORNING WILL TRACK TO
THE NORTHEASTERN GULF LATE THIS EVENING. A SECOND STRONGER FRONT
ASSOCIATED WITH A 958 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL MOVE INTO THE WESTERN
GULF LATE TONIGHT AND MOVE ASHORE THE GULF COAST SUN AFTERNOON. THE
958 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL MOVE INLAND NEAR SOUTHERN SHELIKOF
STRAIT SUN MORNING. 
$$

PKZ120-180300-
CAPE SUCKLING TO GORE POINT
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...STORM WARNING SUNDAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...SE WIND 50 KT. SEAS 15 FT BUILDING TO 21 FT IN THE AFTERNOON.
RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.WED...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT.  

$$

PKZ121-180300-
RESURRECTION BAY
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY SUNDAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 10 KT BECOMING 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 3 FT.
HIGHER SEAS S OF CAINES HEAD. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. HIGHER SEAS S OF CAINES HEAD.
SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SUN...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HIGHER WINDS AND SEAS S OF CAINES
HEAD. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SUN NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.TUE...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.WED...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.  

$$

PKZ125-180300-
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...GALE WARNING SUNDAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 9 FT. RAIN.
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.WED...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT.  

$$

PKZ129-180300-
PASSAGE CANAL
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...

.TODAY...E WIND 10 KT INCREASING TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2
FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 15 KT INCREASING TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
2 FT BUILDING TO 4 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.MON...E WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.TUE...E WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.WED...VARIABLE WIND LESS THAN 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.  

$$

PKZ130-180300-
BARREN ISLANDS AND KAMISHAK BAY WATERS
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...STORM WARNING SUNDAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT EXCEPT 8 FT W OF THE BARREN
ISLANDS. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 35 KT BECOMING SE 45 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
13 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...SE WIND 50 KT DIMINISHING TO SW 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. W OF
THE BARREN ISLANDS...E WIND 40 KT BECOMING SW 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 20 FT EXCEPT 10 FT W OF THE BARREN ISLANDS. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.WED...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ132-180300-
SHUYAK ISLAND TO SITKINAK
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT BECOMING SE 50 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
15 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...S WIND 50 KT BECOMING SW IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 22 FT. RAIN
AND SNOW. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.WED...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT.  

$$

PKZ138-180300-
SHELIKOF STRAIT
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 15 KT INCREASING TO SE 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 5
FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT BECOMING E 40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 5 FT
BUILDING TO 9 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...SE WIND 35 KT BECOMING SW 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 FT.
RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 45 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.WED...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 2 FT.  

$$

PKZ140-180300-
COOK INLET NORTH OF KAMISHAK BAY AND ENGLISH BAY
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TODAY...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT INCREASING TO SE 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
N OF KALGIN ISLAND...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5
FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT EXCEPT SE 15 KT N OF KALGIN ISLAND. SEAS IN
ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SUN...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT. 
.TUE...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT.  

$$

PKZ141-180300-
KACHEMAK BAY
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...GALE WARNING SUNDAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 15 KT INCREASING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 4
FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT.  

$$
813 
FZAK51 PAFC 180019
CWFAER

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE ALASKA
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA COAST
UP TO 100 NM OUT INCLUDING KODIAK ISLAND AND COOK INLET.

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.

PKZ197-181500-
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST+KODIAK ISLAND WATERS+
COOK INLET...

A WEATHER FRONT MOVES TO THE NORTHEASTERN GULF LATE THIS EVENING. A
SECOND STRONGER FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH A 958 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL
MOVE INTO THE WESTERN GULF LATE TONIGHT AND REACH THE GULF COAST SUN
AFTERNOON. THE 958 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL MOVE INLAND NEAR
SOUTHERN SHELIKOF STRAIT SUNDAY MORNING.

$$

PKZ120-181500-
CAPE SUCKLING TO GORE POINT
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...STORM WARNING SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO 40 KT BY MIDNIGHT. SEAS 6 FT
BUILDING TO 15 FT. RAIN. 
.SUN...SE WIND 45 KT INCREASING TO 55 KT. GUSTS TO 65 KT E OF
MONTAGUE ISLAND. SEAS BUILDING TO 24 FT. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 50 KT DIMINISHING TO 40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
22 FT. RAIN SNOW SHOWERS. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.WED...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 15 FT.  

$$

PKZ121-181500-
RESURRECTION BAY
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. HIGHER SEAS S OF CAINES HEAD.
SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SUN...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HIGHER SEAS S OF CAINES HEAD. RAIN. 
.SUN NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
5 FT SUBSIDING TO 3 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. HIGHER SEAS S OF CAINES
HEAD. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.MON AND MON NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.WED...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.  

$$

PKZ125-181500-
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...STORM WARNING FOR SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...SE WIND INCREASING TO 50 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 12 FT. RAIN.
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.MON...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.WED...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT.  

$$

PKZ129-181500-
PASSAGE CANAL
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...GALE WARNING SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN. 
.SUN...E WIND INCREASING TO 35 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT IN THE EVENING BECOMING VARIABLE LESS THAN
10 KT. SEAS SUBSIDING TO 2 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.MON...W WIND 10 KT. SEAS 1 FT. 
.MON NIGHT THROUGH TUE...E WIND 10 KT. SEAS 1 FT. 
.WED THROUGH THU...VARIABLE WIND LESS THAN 10 KT. SEAS 1 FT. 

$$

PKZ130-181500-
BARREN ISLANDS AND KAMISHAK BAY WATERS
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...STORM WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT BECOMING SE 50 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
15 FT. W OF THE BARREN ISLANDS...SEAS 7 FT BUILDING TO 12 FT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. RAIN. 
.SUN...SE WIND 55 KT. W OF THE BARREN ISLANDS...E WIND 45 KT
BECOMING SW 40 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 21 FT EXCEPT 11 FT W OF THE
BARREN ISLANDS. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 50 KT DIMINISHING TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. W OF
THE BARREN ISLANDS...SW WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 18 FT EXCEPT 8 FT W OF THE BARREN ISLANDS. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.WED...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ132-181500-
SHUYAK ISLAND TO SITKINAK
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...STORM WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 30 KT BECOMING SE 50 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
17 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...S WIND 55 KT. SEAS 23 FT. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
20 FT SUBSIDING TO 14 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.WED...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$

PKZ138-181500-
SHELIKOF STRAIT
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...STORM WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT BECOMING NE 55 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 5 FT
BUILDING TO 10 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN. 
.SUN...NE WIND 50 KT BECOMING SW 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 16 FT
SUBSIDING TO 12 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. RAIN. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
12 FT SUBSIDING TO 8 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.WED...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT.  

$$

PKZ140-181500-
COOK INLET NORTH OF KAMISHAK BAY AND ENGLISH BAY
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...GALE WARNING SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 30 KT EXCEPT E 15 KT N OF KALGIN ISLAND. STRONGER
GUSTS 40 KT SOUTH OF KACHEMAK BAY. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT. SNOW
AND RAIN. 
.SUN...E WIND 30 KT. STRONGER GUSTS 60 KT OUT OF TURNAGAIN ARM IN THE
MORNING. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT SUBSIDING TO 3 FT
IN THE AFTERNOON. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS.
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.MON...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT. 
.TUE...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 10 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 2 FT.  

$$

PKZ141-181500-
KACHEMAK BAY
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 17 2011

...GALE WARNING SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 13 FT AND THEN 
SUBSIDING TO 8 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN AND SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.THU...SW WIND 10 KT. SEAS 3 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 16, 1:41 PM AKST, 2 hours 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 16, 1:41 PM AKST, 2 hours 19 minutes before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
140 PM AKST THU DEC 15 2011

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
THE LONG WAVE PATTERN REMAINS UNCHANGED WITH A DEEP TROUGH OVER
WESTERN ALASKA EXTENDING ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO THE TROPICS. THE
UPSTREAM RIDGE THAT IS BLOCKING THIS TROUGH IS CENTERED OFF THE
CALIFORNIA COAST. THESE TWO FEATURES THAT ARE DRIVING OUR WEATHER
PATTERN WILL GO THROUGH CYCLES BUT OVERALL WILL NOT BE DISPLACED
THROUGH NEXT WEEK. THE RESULT WILL BE A CONTINUED ACTIVE PATTERN WITH
A SERIES OF STRONG LOWS DEVELOPING SOUTH OF THE ALEUTIANS AND THEN
BENDING NORTH TOWARD THE ALASKA PENINSULA.

THE EARLY AFTERNOON SATELLITE IMAGES CLEARLY DEPICT FOUR AREAS OF LOW
PRESSURE ACROSS OUR DOMAIN. THE ANCHOR LOW FOR THE BROAD CYCLONIC
CIRCULATION IS A 972 MB LOW NEAR CAPE NEWENHAM. THE FIRST WAVE
ROTATING AROUND ITS PERIPHERY IS A WEAKENING 992 MB LOW APPROACHING
THE NORTHEAST GULF COAST WHERE IT WILL DISSIPATE AS IT MOVES INLAND
TONIGHT. THE SECOND LOW IS ASSOCIATED WITH A WAVE MOVING AROUND THE
BASE OF THE LARGE SCALE CYCLONIC CIRCULATION WHICH WILL HAVE NO
IMPACT ON OUR DOMAIN. A THIRD LOW IS DEVELOPING NEAR THE WESTERN
ALEUTIANS. THIS LOW WILL WILL MOVE INTO THE EASTERN BERING SEA LATER
THIS WEEKEND...REPLACING THE CURRENT ANCHOR LOW. IF WE ZOOM OUT A
LITTLE MORE...WE CAN SEE EVIDENCE OF THE NEXT WAVE LINED UP OVER THE
NORTHWEST PACIFIC. THIS LAST WAVE WILL BECOME A VERY STRONG LOW NEAR
THE ALASKA PENINSULA BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...THE FORECAST MODELS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE ON THE
FAST PACED PATTERN WITH LOW AFTER LOW DEVELOPING. THIS MORNING...THE
NAM INITIALIZES VERY POORLY ON TWO OF THE AFOREMENTIONED LOWS. NOT
SURPRISINGLY...THE NAM IS AN OUTLIER LATER THIS WEEKEND WITH SEVERAL
OF THE DEVELOPING FEATURES. THERE IS MUCH MORE CONFIDENCE WITH THE
ECMWF WHICH HAS SHOWN SOME RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY AND INITIALIZES
WELL THIS MORNING ON ALL MAJOR FEATURES. THE MOST CRITICAL MODEL
DIFFERENCE APPEARS TO BE RESOLVED WITH THE LATEST RUN. EARLIER THERE
WAS MUCH UNCERTAINTY WITH A DEVELOPING LOW ON SUNDAY...AND WHICH
TRACK IT WAS GOING TO TAKE. THE GFS AND ECMWF SEEMED TO HAVE LOCKED
IN ON A SIMILAR SOLUTION...TAKING THE LOW INLAND NEAR THE ALASKA
PENINSULA AND THEN WEAKENING IT SUNDAY NIGHT.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...THE CHALLENGE FOR THE SOUTHCENTRAL FORECAST
WILL BE CENTERED AROUND THE POTENTIAL FOR MORE CHINOOK WINDS BY THE
END OF THE WEEKEND. UNTIL THEN...A SERIES OF WEAKER UPPER LEVEL WAVES
WILL IMPACT MAINLY THE COASTAL SECTIONS WITH RAIN AND SNOW WHILE THE
INTERIOR ONLY SEES SCATTERED PRECIPITATION. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT
ACROSS THE CHUGACH RANGE WILL REMAIN ELEVATED THROUGH THE WEEKEND
WHICH WILL FUNNEL WINDS THROUGH TURNAGAIN ARM. TYPICALLY...THESE
WINDS ONLY EFFECT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS BUT SINCE OUR COLD AIR HAS
BEEN SCOURED OUT...IT WILL BE MUCH EASIER FOR THE STRONGER WINDS TO
MIX DOWN TO THE SURFACE. THIS CAN BE SEEN RIGHT NOW WITH PARTS OF THE
LOWER HILLSIDE EXPERIENCING EAST WINDS TO 20 MPH AND TEMPERATURES IN
THE UPPER 30S.

SO WITH EACH WAVE AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT DEVELOPS OVER THE
WEEKEND...WE WILL HAVE TO WATCH CLOSELY FOR SIGNS THAT WINDS WILL
AGAIN INCREASE THROUGHOUT ANCHORAGE. THE BIGGEST THREAT WILL BE ON
SUNDAY AS A LOW DEEPENS TO APPROXIMATELY 960 MB AS IT MOVES OVER THE
ALASKA PENINSULA.

COLD AIR ON THE BACKSIDE OF THIS LOW WILL QUICKLY FILTER ACROSS THE
REGION SUNDAY EVENING...BRINGING ANOTHER CHANCE OF SNOWFALL BEFORE A
SHORTWAVE RIDGE BUILDS ON MONDAY.

SOUTHWEST ALASKA...THE NEXT 48 HOURS OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA WILL
REMAIN UNCHANGED WITH SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS AND
LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS FROM THE EAST. TEMPERATURES ACROSS MOST OF THE
AREA REMAIN WELL ABOVE NORMAL...HOVERING JUST ABOVE FREEZING. THE
POTENTIAL FOR MORE SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION AROUND BRISTOL BAY IS ON
SUNDAY ASSOCIATED WITH THE LARGE 960 MB LOW. LIKEWISE...LOCALLY VERY
WINDY CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY WITH THIS SYSTEM. UNLIKE LAST WEEK...THE
POTENTIAL FOR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS DOES NOT LOOK VERY GOOD AS PLENTY
OF WARM AIR SPILLS ACROSS THE ALEUTIAN AND ALASKA RANGES INTO THE
SOUTHWEST INTERIOR. BY MONDAY...SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL RESUME WITH
WIDESPREAD SNOW SHOWERS PREVAILING THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK.

BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...
THE CHALLENGE FOR THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIANS WILL CONTINUE TO BE
TRYING TO CAPTURE THE MULTIPLE LOWS DEVELOPING AND THEN WEAKENING.
WINDS AROUND THESE LOWS ARE GENERALLY GALE FORCE OR WEAKER. AT THIS
TIME...THERE ARE NO THREATS FOR WATCHES OR WARNINGS THROUGH THE
WEEKEND.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...GALE WARNING...120 130 132 138 150 155 160 170
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

AB DEC 11

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 16, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC7 days
Dec 16, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Dec 16, 4:20 PM AKSTBlizzard WatchAFC24 hr
Dec 16, 4:21 PM AKSTHigh Wind WatchAFC24 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC4 days
Dec 17, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC3 days
Dec 17, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC36 hr
Dec 17, 4:00 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC4 days
Dec 17, 4:00 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC36 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.