Gale Warning 146, NWS Juneau, AK

Issued

Feb 22, 2011, 10:54 AM AKST (19:54 UTC)

Expired

Feb 22, 2011, 4:00 PM AKST

In force

5 hr

Issued by

NWS Juneau, AK

570 
FZAK51 PAJK 221956 AAA
CWFAJK

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

SOUTHEAST ALASKA INSIDE WATERS FROM DIXON ENTRANCE TO SKAGWAY

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.

PKZ098-230100-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA INNER CHANNELS COASTAL WATERS...
OUTFLOW WINDS FROM ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE IN THE YUKON WILL
INTENSIFY THROUGH WED. HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE WESTERN AK GULF
CONTINUES TO BUILD.   

$$

PKZ011-230100-
GLACIER BAY-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...NW GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.THU...N WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING OVERNIGHT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.FRI...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.SAT...NW GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 

$$

PKZ012-230100-
NORTHERN LYNN CANAL-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...N GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.THU...N WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING AND BECOMING S OVERNIGHT. SEAS 6
FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.SAT...N GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ013-230100-
SOUTHERN LYNN CANAL-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

UPDATED

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...N GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...N WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING AND BECOMING S OVERNIGHT. SEAS 5
FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.SAT...S GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 

$$

PKZ021-230100-
ICY STRAIT-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY LATE. 
.WED...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 20 KT DIMINISHING AND BECOMING SW OVERNIGHT. SEAS
4 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 

$$

PKZ022-230100-
CROSS SOUND-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

UPDATED

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 45 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY LATE. 
.WED...NE GALE TO 45 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 20 KT DIMINISHING AND BECOMING SW OVERNIGHT. SEAS
4 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 

$$

PKZ031-230100-
STEPHENS PASSAGE-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

UPDATED

...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N WIND 30 KT. GUSTS TO 45 KT OUT OF INTERIOR PASSES.
SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. GUSTS TO 45 KT OUT OF INTERIOR PASSES.
SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...N GALE TO 35 KT. GUSTS TO 55 KT OUT OF INTERIOR
PASSES. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. GUSTS TO 50 KT OUT OF INTERIOR
PASSES. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...N WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING AND BECOMING S OVERNIGHT. SEAS 6
FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 

$$

PKZ032-230100-
NORTHERN CHATHAM STRAIT-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY IN THE
AFTERNOON. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND INCREASING TO 30 KT LATE. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.WED...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NW WIND 20 KT DIMINISHING AND BECOMING S OVERNIGHT. SEAS 4
FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 

$$

PKZ033-230100-
SOUTHERN CHATHAM STRAIT-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT...EXCEPT 8 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES.
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT...EXCEPT 8 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES. 
.WED...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.THU...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT OR LESS. 
.FRI...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ034-230100-
FREDERICK SOUND-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE WIND 20 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT OUT OF INTERIOR PASSES.
SEAS 4 FT. FREEZING SPRAY IN THE AFTERNOON. 
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY LATE. 
.WED...NE WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 50 KT OUT OF INTERIOR
PASSES. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. GUSTS TO 50 KT OUT OF INTERIOR
PASSES. SEAS 4 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NE WIND 20 KT DIMINISHING AND BECOMING SW OVERNIGHT. SEAS
4 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ035-230100-
SUMNER STRAIT-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. FREEZING SPRAY IN THE
AFTERNOON. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND INCREASING TO 25 KT LATE. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY LATE. 
.WED...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NE WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING AND BECOMING W OVERNIGHT. SEAS 5
FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ036-230100-
CLARENCE STRAIT-
1054 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW WIND 15 KT INCREASING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
5 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.WED...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.THU...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.FRI...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

NWS Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Feb 22, 5:55 AM AKST, 4 hours 59 minutes earlier.

SOUTHEAST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
555 AM AKST TUE FEB 22 2011

.SHORT TERM...SATELLITE IMAGERY THIS MORNING SHOWING INVERTED
TROUGH JUST THE WEST OF THE AK PANHANDLE, ARCTIC HIGH BUILDING
OVER THE YUKON AND HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE MOVING INTO THE WESTERN
GULF. LINE OF SHOWERS TRACKING TO THE SOUTHEAST OVER THE COASTAL
WATERS HAS REMAINED MOSTLY OFF SHORE AS SEEN ON RADAR. A FEW
ISOLATED SHOWERS MAY REACH THE SOUTHERN OUTER COAST THIS MORNING
BUT OVERALL THE REGION WILL REMAIN DRY. NORTHERLY GALE FORCE
WINDS OVER THE AK GULF AND COASTAL WATERS WITH GALES OVER THE
NORTHERN INNER CHANNELS. AS YUKON HIGH BUILDS WILL SEE INCREASE
IN OUTFLOW WINDS THROUGH THE DAY. OUTFLOW WINDS AT HAENKE ISLAND
NEAR YAKUTAT HAVE REACHED ADVY LEVELS GUSTS ALREADY. FELT WIND
ADVY WERE NOT NECESSARY FOR OTHER LOCATIONS DUE TO LIMITED SCOPE
OF THE HIGHER GUSTS BUT REGIONS SUCH AS SKAGWAY AND INTERIOR
PASSES NEAR JUNEAU WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED. OTHERWISE NORTHERLY
WINDS OVER THE PANHANDLE WILL BE LESS THAN 20 MPH. SKIES HAVE
BEEN PARTLY CLOUDY TO CLEAR THIS MORNING WITH MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES
EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT, WITH A FEW HIGH CIRRUS
CLOUDS. AS ARCTIC AIR CONTINUES TO MOVE OVER THE PANHANDLE OVER
EXPECTING COLD OVER NIGHT TEMPS WITH LOWS IN THE TEENS TO SINGLE
DIGITS. THE COLD TEMPS ALONG WITH THE INCREASED WINDS WILL BRING
FREEZING SPRAY TO HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
TONIGHT.

 MODELS WERE IN GOOD CONSENSUS TODAY WITH THE NAM AND WRF SHOWING
THE BEST RESOLUTION OF OUTFLOW WINDS. FEW TO ANY CHANGES WERE
MADE TO THE CURRENT GRIDS. FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS ABOVE AVERAGE.

 &&

.LONG TERM...MODELS REMAIN IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT DEPICTING A
WEAKENING INVERTED TROUGH JUST OFF THE COAST BEING SURROUNDED
FROM THE WEST, NORTH, AND EAST BY VERY STRONG SURFACE HIGH
PRESSURE AT THE START OF THE LONG RANGE FORECAST PERIOD. AS THE
VERY LARGE SURFACE HIGH COMPLEX MOVES SOUTH, IT DIVIDES INTO TWO
DISTINCT SURFACE CIRCULATIONS IN THE PROCESS OF DISPLACING THE
REMNANTS OF THE INVERTED TROUGH WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BEING
IMPINGED UPON FROM THE NORTH BY A DEVELOPING SHORTWAVE ASSOCIATED
WITH A VERY DEEP LOW IN THE BEAUFORT SEA AND ITS ASSOCIATED
FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT EXTENDS SOUTHWEST INTO THE NORTH CENTRAL PACIFIC.
THE MUCH LARGER SURFACE HIGH CENTERED OVER THE SOUTHWEST GULF WILL
BLOCK WARM, MOIST ZONAL FLOW FROM ENTERING THE GULF FROM THE WEST
OR SOUTHWEST. THE SMALLER SURFACE HIGH LOCATED OVER BRITISH
COLUMBIA WILL PROVIDE FOR A STRONG NORTHEASTERLY PRESSURE GRADIENT
OVER THE PANHANDLE WHICH WILL GENERATE COLD NORTHEASTERLY OUTFLOW
WINDS THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE REGION OF MAXIMUM
NORTHEAST WINDS MIGRATING FROM JUST EAST OF YAKUTAT TO MISTY
FJORDS ALONG THE COAST MOUNTAINS THROUGH THAT TIME FRAME.

VERY LITTLE POP IN THE LONG RANGE FORECAST PERIOD WITH THE MAIN
EVENT OVER THE NEXT WEEK BEING THE SHORT WAVE IMPINGING ON THE
SURFACE HIGH FROM THE NORTH. A WEAK SURFACE LOW IS FORECAST TO
DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY VICINITY CAPE SUCKLING IN THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS OF SATURDAY WITH FRONTAL PRECIPITATION
BEGINNING IN YAKUTAT FRIDAY NIGHT AND REACHING THE SOUTHERN ZONES
BY SATURDAY MORNING. AM EXPECTING A SNOW EVENT THAT CHANGES TO
RAIN ALONG THE OUTER COAST BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. WILL LIKELY SEE
A RAIN-SNOW MIX OVER THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE PANHANDLE, TO
INCLUDE ANGOON AND POINTS SOUTH OF FREDERICK SOUND. CURRENTLY, AM
EXCEPTING AN ALL SNOW EVENT FOR JUNEAU AND POINTS NORTH, TO
INCLUDE GUSTAVUS, HAINES, AND SKAGWAY.

SOME LOW LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS
PRECIPITATION EVENT, BUT THE ARCTIC FRONT IS EXPECTED TO DROP BACK
SOUTH SOON AFTER THE FRONT CLEAR THE AREA TO THE SOUTH.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM AKST WEDNESDAY FOR AKZ017.
MARINE...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ011>013-031.
         GALE WARNING FOR PKZ011>013-022-041>043-051-052.
         SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ021-031>036.

&&

PRB/FRITSCH

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.