Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2011

Gale Warning 143, NWS Juneau, AK

February 20, 2011

NWS Juneau, AK issued this gale warning at Feb 20, 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
Feb 20, 2011, 4:00 PM AKST (01:00 UTC)
Expired
Feb 21, 2011, 4:00 PM AKST
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Juneau, AK

The text

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

533 
FZAK52 PAJK 210031
CWFAEG
COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
400 PM AKST SUN FEB 20 2011 

SOUTHEAST ALASKA COASTAL WATERS FROM DIXON ENTRANCE TO
CAPE SUCKLING OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ099-211400-
400 PM AKST SUN FEB 20 2011 
.SYNOPSIS FOR OUTSIDE WATERS...
A WEAK LOW ON THE NORTH GULF COAST WILL MOVE SE ALONG THE PANHANDLE
TONIGHT AND CONTINUE SE TO BRITISH COLUMBIA MON. STRONG ARCTIC HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE YUKON TUE AND WED.   
$$

PKZ041-211400-
DIXON ENTRANCE TO CAPE DECISION-
400 PM AKST SUN FEB 20 2011 

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND INCREASING 25 KT LATE. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT BUILDING TO 18 FT IN THE
AFTERNOON. 
.MON NIGHT...NW GALE 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.TUE...N GALE 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. W SWELL. 
.WED AND THU...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
$$

PKZ042-211400-
CAPE DECISION TO CAPE EDGECUMBE-
400 PM AKST SUN FEB 20 2011 

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 30 KT LATE. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT BUILDING TO 17 FT IN THE
AFTERNOON. 
.MON NIGHT...NW GALE 35 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
$$

PKZ043-211400-
CAPE EDGECUMBE TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER-
400 PM AKST SUN FEB 20 2011 

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 30 KT LATE. SEAS 12 FT
BUILDING TO 14 FT LATE. RAIN LATE. 
.MON...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NW GALE 35 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.TUE THROUGH WED...NE WIND 30 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT OUT OF CROSS SOUND.
SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY NEAR SHORE. 
.THU...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
$$

PKZ051-211400-
CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO ICY CAPE-
400 PM AKST SUN FEB 20 2011 

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT BECOMING NW 30 KT LATE. SEAS 10 FT
BUILDING TO 13 FT LATE. 
.MON...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NW GALE 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 45 KT OUT OF INTERIOR
BAYS AND PASSES. SEAS 12 FT. W SWELL. FREEZING SPRAY NEAR SHORE.  
.WED...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING SPRAY NEAR SHORE.  
.THU...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
$$

PKZ052-211400-
ICY CAPE TO CAPE SUCKLING-
400 PM AKST SUN FEB 20 2011 

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 30 KT LATE. SEAS 11 FT
BUILDING TO 13 FT LATE. 
.MON...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NW GALE 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TUE...N GALE TO 35 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT OUT OF INTERIOR BAYS AND
PASSES. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT AND WED...NE WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT OUT OF INTERIOR
BAYS AND PASSES. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
$$
2 follow-up statements
949 
FZAK52 PAJK 211244
CWFAEG

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
400 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

SOUTHEAST ALASKA COASTAL WATERS FROM DIXON ENTRANCE TO
CAPE SUCKLING OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ099-220100-
400 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 
.SYNOPSIS FOR OUTSIDE WATERS...
A WEAK LOW OVER THE CENTRAL PANHANDLE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SE
TOWARDS BRITISH COLUMBIA TODAY. STRONG ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL
BUILD ACROSS THE YUKON TUE AND WED.   

$$

PKZ041-220100-
DIXON ENTRANCE TO CAPE DECISION-
400 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

...GALE WARNING TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...W WIND INCREASING TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 12 FT
BUILDING TO 16 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT. NW SWELL. 
.WED...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 

$$

PKZ042-220100-
CAPE DECISION TO CAPE EDGECUMBE-
400 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW WIND INCREASING TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT BUILDING TO 16
FT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.TUE...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 20 KT BECOMING NW 25 KT LATE. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ043-220100-
CAPE EDGECUMBE TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER-
400 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW WIND INCREASING TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
13 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.TUE...NE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ051-220100-
CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO ICY CAPE-
400 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW WIND 25 KT BECOMING W 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
12 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT BECOMING NE LATE. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...NE GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 

$$

PKZ052-220100-
ICY CAPE TO CAPE SUCKLING-
400 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

...GALE WARNING TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
12 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TUE...NW GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 

$$
852 
FZAK52 PAJK 212108 AAA
CWFAEG

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
1205 PM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

SOUTHEAST ALASKA COASTAL WATERS FROM DIXON ENTRANCE TO
CAPE SUCKLING OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ099-220100-
400 AM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 
.SYNOPSIS FOR OUTSIDE WATERS...
A WEAK LOW OVER THE CENTRAL PANHANDLE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SE
TOWARDS BRITISH COLUMBIA TODAY. STRONG ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL
BUILD ACROSS THE YUKON TUE AND WED.   

$$

PKZ041-220100-
DIXON ENTRANCE TO CAPE DECISION-
1205 PM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

UPDATED

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT. NW SWELL. 
.WED...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 

$$

PKZ042-220100-
CAPE DECISION TO CAPE EDGECUMBE-
1205 PM AKST MON FEB 21 2011

UPDATED 

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.TUE...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 20 KT BECOMING NW 25 KT LATE. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ043-220100-
CAPE EDGECUMBE TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER-
1205 PM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.TUE...NE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ051-220100-
CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO ICY CAPE-
1205 PM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT BECOMING NE LATE. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE...NE GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...NE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 

$$

PKZ052-220100-
ICY CAPE TO CAPE SUCKLING-
1205 PM AKST MON FEB 21 2011 

UPDATED

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TUE...NW GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 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 Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Feb 20, 2:30 PM AKST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 20, 2:30 PM AKST, 1 hour 30 minutes before
SOUTHEAST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
230 PM AKST SUN FEB 20 2011

.SHORT RANGE...
WEAKER ARCTIC HIGH OF ABOUT 1022 MB NEAR PAOH 14Z WILL BE FOLLWED BY
A MUCH STRONGER ARCTIC HIGH DVLPG FM THE NW MON.  WHAT SEPARATES THE
WEAK ARCTIC OUTFLOW FROM THE STRONGER OUTFLOW IS TROUGHS ALOFT AND
AN ASSOCIATED WEAK BARCLINIC WAVE TRACKING SE ALONG THE PNHDL
TONIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING. THE WAVE WILL EXIT ESE ACRS CZST BTWN
18Z MON AND 00Z TUE, AND AS IT IS EXITING WILL LEAVE AN INVERTED
TROUGH ALONG THE PNHDL THAT IN TURN WILL AID THE STRONGER ARCTIC
OUTBREAK DISCUSSED IN THE LONG RANG SXN BLO.

THE MODEL CONSENSUS IS GOOD.  (THE MAIN ISSUES FOR THE SHORT
RANGE OUR AOR IS THE LOW TRACKING SE ALONG THE PANHANDLE TONIGHT).
NAM 2012 WAS FITTED IN FOR PRES/WIND FIELDS FOR 12Z MON TO 00Z TUE.
WS WRF USED FOR SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO WIND DIRECTIONS IN INNER
CHANNELS A BLEND OF NMRS MODELS WAS USED FOR POPS AS THE OVERALL
CONSENSUS WAS GOOD.   NAM12 HAS HAD THE STRONGEST WINDS FOR THE
OUTER COAST FM POW ISLAND TO PASI, AND THE VALUES USED WERE BETWEEN
THE NAM AND THE CLUSTER OF THE OTHER MODEL SOLUTIONS.
&&

.LONG TERM...
COMING INTO DRY CLEAR WINDY AND COLD. STRONG SURFACE HIGH CELL WILL
DEFINITELY BUILD OVER THE YUKON BY 12Z TUE. USED 20/12Z AK-GFS-40
FROM 00Z TUE TO 00Z THU...LIKED THE STRONGER HIGH CELL.

ALL 20/12Z OPS MODELS AGREE THAT THE FLOW ALOFT OVER THE
PANHANDLE WILL BE WNW AT 00Z TUE WITH ONE LAST SHORTWAVE OVER THE
CENTRAL INTERIOR YET TO COME. BEST ESTIMATE IS THAT THERE WILL BE
HARDLY ANY MOISTURE IN THIS ONE SO WILL KEEP POPS ZERO WITH THIS
LAST GASP WITH MAYBE CIRRUS OVER THE NORTHERN END. THE UPPER
RIDGE AXIS WILL BE FROM THE WESTERN GULF THROUGH THE BERING
STRAIT AND TEMPS AT 500 HPA AROUND -40C OVER THE YUKON WITH VERY
COLD ALOFT OVER SIBERIA WHICH WILL MOVE THE UPPER RIDGE.

BAROCLINIC MODELS OFTEN BREAK DOWN BLOCKS TOO EARLY. PREDICTION
IS THAT WE WILL SEE THE MODEL FORECASTS BACK OFF ON MOVING THE
UPPER RIDGE TOO FAR EAST BEYOND FRI. GFS ENSEMBLES POINT TO THE
UPPER RIDGE AXIS OVER 152W BY 12Z THU WHICH AGREES WITH HPC AND
20/12Z ECMWF. BY 12Z FRI EVERYBODY TILTS THE RIDGE OVER THE YUKON
BUT FLOW ALF WILL STILL BE N OVER THE PANHANDLE FOR DRY COLD AND
LOCAL WINDZ. IF WE ACCEPT ECMWF/GFS/GFS ENSEMBLES YOU BRING A
SHORTWAVE FROM THE W SATURDAY THE 26TH. GONNA MAKE SOME POPS FOR
IT BUT WATCH AND SEE. CONFIDENCE HIGH THRU FRI...THEN LOW BEYOND.

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...SMCR PKZ011>013-033-041>043-051-052.
&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 20, 10:43 AM AKST, 5 hours 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
1043 AM AKST SUN FEB 20 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 AM     HEAVY SNOW       DOUGLAS                 58.27N 134.39W
02/20/2011  M13.5 INCH                          AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 13.5 INCHES WAS MEASURED FROM FRIDAY
            AFTERNOON TO SUNDAY MORNING AT 6 AM AT AN ELEVATION OF
            420 FEET ON SOUTH DOUGLAS ISLAND.

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       PETERSBURG              56.81N 132.96W
02/20/2011  M8.0 INCH                           AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            A NWS SPOTTER IN PETERSBURG REPORTED SNOWFALL TOTAL OF 8
            INCHES IN 24 HOURS.

0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       HYDER                   55.91N 130.02W
02/20/2011  M8.1 INCH                           AK   CO-OP OBSERVER

            NWS COOP IN HYDER REPORTED 8.1 INCHES OF SNOWFALL IN
            THEIR MORNING REPORT WITH MODERATE SNOW CONTINUING.

0800 AM     SNOW             13 N KETCHIKAN          55.53N 131.65W
02/20/2011  M3.0 INCH                           AK   CO-OP OBSERVER

            NWS COOP IN KETCHIKAN REPORTED 3 INCHES OF NEW SNOW
            DURING A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY EVENT WITH THE SNOW
            STOPPING AROUND 3 AM THIS MORNING.

&&

NCB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 20, 4:00 PM AKSTGale WarningAJK24 hr
Feb 20, 4:00 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK24 hr
Feb 20, 4:10 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK24 hr
Feb 20, 10:40 PM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAJK6 hr
Feb 20, 11:06 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK17 hr
Feb 21, 4:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK12 hr
Feb 21, 4:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK12 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.