Gale Warning 533, NWS Juneau, AK

Issued

Dec 23, 2011, 9:18 AM AKST (18:18 UTC)

Expired

Dec 23, 2011, 4:00 PM AKST

In force

7 hr

Issued by

NWS Juneau, AK

655 
FZAK51 PAJK 231818 AAA
CWFAJK

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 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.

PKZ098-240100-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA INNER CHANNELS COASTAL WATERS...
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER SE AK WILL DRIFT EAST BY FRI
AFTERNOON AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES INTO THE CENTRAL GULF.
THE ASSOCIATED WEATHER FRONT WILL DRIFT NORTH OVER THE PANHANDLE
TONIGHT. THE LOW WILL LIFT OVER YAKUTAT TONIGHT AS ANOTHER RIDGE
BUILDS OVER SE AK. 

$$

PKZ011-240100-
GLACIER BAY-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011


...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE LATE MORNING.
SEAS 7 FT SUBSIDING TO 5 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS
IN THE MORNING...THEN SNOW AND RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 KT BECOMING S 30 KT IN THE LATE EVENING. SEAS
3 FT BUILDING TO 6 FT LATE. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW.
.MON...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 

$$

PKZ012-240100-
NORTHERN LYNN CANAL-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

UPDATED

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 40 KT IN THE LATE EVENING.
SEAS 4 FT BUILDING TO 8 FT LATE. SNOW AND RAIN.
.SAT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.MON...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 

$$

PKZ013-240100-
SOUTHERN LYNN CANAL-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

UPDATED

...GALE WARNING TODAY AND TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...S WIND 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 8 FT SUBSIDING TO 6 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. RAIN AND
SNOW SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...N WIND 15 KT BECOMING S 35 KT IN THE LATE EVENING...THEN
DIMINISHING LATE. SEAS 4 FT BUILDING TO 7 FT LATE. SNOW AND RAIN.
.SAT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.MON...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 

$$

PKZ021-240100-
ICY STRAIT-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 6 FT.
RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS IN THE MORNING...THEN RAIN AND SNOW IN THE
AFTERNOON. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT BECOMING SW 30 KT LATE. SEAS 6 FT. SNOW
IN THE EVENING. RAIN.
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ022-240100-
CROSS SOUND-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

UPDATED

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...SW WIND 35 KT BECOMING E IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
9 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT BECOMING SW 30 KT IN THE LATE EVENING. SEAS
9 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. SW SWELL. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. S SWELL. RAIN.
.SUN...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. SW SWELL. SNOW...RAIN.
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ031-240100-
STEPHENS PASSAGE-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 30 KT IN THE LATE EVENING.
SEAS 4 FT BUILDING TO 6 FT LATE. RAIN.
.SAT...SE WIND 20 KT. GUSTS TO 35 KT OUT OF INTERIOR PASSES.
SEAS 4 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN...SNOW.
.MON...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ032-240100-
NORTHERN CHATHAM STRAIT-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 30 KT IN THE LATE EVENING.
SEAS 4 FT BUILDING TO 6 FT LATE. RAIN.
.SAT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN WITH SNOW. 
.MON...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 

$$

PKZ033-240100-
SOUTHERN CHATHAM STRAIT-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...S WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
5 FT...EXCEPT 11 FT NEAR OCEAN ENTRANCES. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING LATE. SEAS 6 FT...EXCEPT
11 FT NEAR OCEAN ENTRANCES. RAIN IN THE EVENING. 
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT...EXCEPT 8 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT...EXCEPT 10 FT NEAR
OCEAN ENTRANCES. RAIN.
.SUN...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT...EXCEPT 10 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES. RAIN.
.MON...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ034-240100-
FREDERICK SOUND-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...SE WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
5 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT BECOMING SW 25 KT IN THE LATE EVENING.
SEAS 6 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT OUT OF INTERIOR PASSES.
SEAS 5 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT. GUSTS TO 35 KT OUT OF INTERIOR
PASSES. SEAS 4 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN...SNOW.
.MON...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ035-240100-
SUMNER STRAIT-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT...EXCEPT 8 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...E WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING LATE. SEAS 6 FT. RAIN IN THE
EVENING. 
.SAT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. RAIN.
.MON...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ036-240100-
CLARENCE STRAIT-
918 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

UPDATED

...GALE WARNING TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...SE WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 7 FT...EXCEPT 10 FT NEAR OCEAN ENTRANCES. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE LATE EVENING.
SEAS 7 FT SUBSIDING TO 5 FT LATE. NEAR OCEAN ENTRANCES...SEAS 10 FT
SUBSIDING TO 8 FT LATE. RAIN IN THE EVENING. 
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT...EXCEPT 8 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT...EXCEPT 8 FT NEAR
OCEAN ENTRANCES. RAIN.
.SUN...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT...EXCEPT 9 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES. RAIN.
.MON...SE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

NWS Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Dec 23, 5:56 AM AKST, 3 hours 22 minutes earlier.

SOUTHEAST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
556 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

.SHORT TERM...THE LATEST SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS SHOWERS MOVING
OVER THE PANHANDLE BEHIND THE FRONT THAT IS NOW OVER CANADA. THERE
IS ANOTHER WEATHER FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH A DEVELOPING LOW LIFTING
OUT OF THE NORTH PACIFIC. THIS LOW WILL TRACK INTO THE NE GULF BY
THIS AFTERNOON TO BE JUST SOUTH OF PAYA THIS EVENING THEN LIFT
INTO THE YUKON AS IT DISSIPATES. THERE IS VERY LARGE PRESSURE
RISES ACROSS SE AK AS A SURFACE RIDGE BUILDS BEHIND THE COLD
FRONT. THIS BUILDING RIDGE IS PRODUCING STRONG WINDS OVER THE
NORTHERN THIRD OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING WITH SOLID GALES
OVER LYNN CANAL AND VERY WINDY CONDITIONS NEAR PAGY AND PAHN.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME HIGH GUSTS IN EXPOSED AREAS OVER THE NORTH
CENTRAL AREAS. ALL OF THIS WIND WILL DIMINISH THROUGH THE LATE
MORNING A RIDGE ESTABLISHES ITS SELF AND BEGINS TO DRIFT TO THE
EAST AS THE LOW LIFTS INTO THE NE GULF THIS AFTERNOON. OVER THE
REST OF THE PANHANDLE THE WINDS FROM THE WEST WILL SLOWLY BACK
AROUND TO THE SE AS THE LOW/WEATHER FRONT DRIFTS NORTH OVER THE
AREA.

THE SHOWERS MOVING OVER THE AREA ARE MIXED WITH SNOW OVER THE
NORTHERN HALF WITH SOME COOLER AIR MOVING IN BEHIND THE COLD
FRONT. FURTHER SOUTH THE SHOWERS ARE ALL LIQUID BUT THERE MAY BE
SOME SNOW MIXED IN IN STRONG SHOWERS. THE SHOWERS WILL TAPPER OFF
LATE THIS MORNING ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA BUT STEADY PRECIP WILL
MOVE BACK OVER THE AREA AS THE FRONT LIFTS NORTH LATE THIS
AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT. THE SOUTHERN AREAS WILL REMAIN ALL RAIN BUT
THE NORTHERN HALF WILL START OUT AS A MIXED OF RAIN AND SNOW BUT
THEN AS THE SOUTHERLY FLOW INCREASES IT WILL CHANGE TO ALL RAIN
OVER NIGHT. SNOW AMOUNTS WILL BE MAINLY LESS THAN 1 INCHES BUT UP
TO 3 INCHES NEAR HAINES AND PAYA AS THEY WILL HOLD ON TO THE COLD
AIR A BIT LONGER.

AS THE LOW MOVES UP INTO THE NE GULF THE WEATHER FRONT WILL
INCREASE THE SOUTHEAST WINDS ALONG THE FAR SOUTHERN COASTAL AREAS
AND PRODUCE STRONG WIND GUSTS THIS EVENING. THERE WILL ALSO BE
SOME HIGH GUSTS ALONG THE REST OF THE EASTERN GULF COAST THIS
AFTERNOON AS THE FRONT LIFTS NORTH THIS WILL INCREASE THE EASTERLY
WINDS TO GALES NEAR CROSS SOUND AND OVER AREA 43. THE INNER
CHANNELS WILL SEE THE WINDS INCREASE THROUGH THE NIGHT AS A RIDGE
WILL BUILD ACROSS THE AREA AGAIN TONIGHT. THERE WILL BE A
TEMPORARY INCREASE IN THE WINDS GUSTS TO STRONG WINDS OVER THE
NORTH CENTRAL AREAS THIS EVENING BUT THEN DIMINISH AFTER MID
NIGHT. THE FAR NORTHERN AREAS WILL SEE THE STRONG WIND GUSTS
THROUGH TONIGHT BUT THEN DIMINISH EARLY SAT MORNING. THE SOUTHERN
WINDS OVER THE MARINE AREAS WILL INCREASE TO SMALL CRAFTS THIS
EVENING WITH GALES OVER LYNN CANAL. THESE WINDS WILL ALSO SLOWLY
DECREASE WITH THE STRONG WINDS REMAINING OVER LYNN CANAL.

THE LARGE SEA HEIGHTS CURRENTLY BE REPORTED OVER THE EASTERN GULF
WILL SLOWLY SUBSIDE THROUGH TODAY AND TO NIGHT TO BE AROUND 15 FT.

USED THE 00Z EC FOR THE SHORT TERM PERIOD AS IT CONTINUES TO OUT
PERFORM THE OTHER GLOBAL MODELS. THERE IS ABOUT AVERAGE FORECASTER
CONFIDENCE IN THE FIRST 24HRS.

&&

.LONG TERM...MODELS HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD GENERAL AGREEMENT ON THE
MAIN FEATURES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. EXPECT THE REST OF THE FRONTAL
BAND TO MOVE THROUGH AND MAIN PARENT LOW TO MOVE INTO THE
NORTHEAST GULF BEFORE LIFTING ACROSS INTO NORTHWEST CANADA
SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WITH THIS
FEATURE IS LEADING IN COOLER AIR ALOFT WITH 850 MB TEMPERATURES
AROUND MINUS 10 FOR THE SUNDAY TIME FRAME.

RAIN OR A MIX ACROSS THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE WILL GIVE WAY TO SNOW
AS THE COLDER TEMPERATURES MOVE IN ON THE SUNDAY...CHRISTMAS
DAY...LEADING TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS EVEN IF LATE
IN THE DAY. BELIEVE THAT THE SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF THE PANHANDLE
WILL REMAIN RAIN THROUGH A FEW FLAKES MAY TRY AND WORK THERE WAY
IN. COOL TREND LOOKS TO BE BE TEMPORARY UNTIL THE NEXT LOW ROLLS
IN ON MONDAY...WITH MORE RAIN AND WIND FOR MONDAY. COULD POSSIBLY
BE QUITE WINDY OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE PANHANDLE.

THE FOLLOW ON SYSTEM RACING ACROSS THE NORTHERN IS EXPECTED TO
CURVE NORTH INTO THE EASTERN GULF ON MONDAY WITH ITS FRONTAL BAND
OF RAIN AND WIND FOR LATE SUNDAY AND MONDAY. EXPECT THAT THE
GENERAL AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE GULF THROUGH
NEXT WEEK. OVERALL

FORECAST CONFIDENCE THROUGH THE LATER PERIODS IS AVERAGE.

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...STRONG WIND FROM 3 PM AKST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING
     FOR AKZ027.
         STRONG WIND UNTIL 9 AM AKST THIS MORNING FOR AKZ025.
         STRONG WIND THIS EVENING FOR AKZ020-021-025.
         STRONG WIND UNTIL NOON AKST TODAY FOR AKZ018-019.
         STRONG WIND FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR AKZ018-
     019.
MARINE...STORM WARNING FOR PKZ012.
         GALE WARNING FOR PKZ011-013-022-031-032-034-036-043.
         SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ021-033-035-041-042-051>053.

&&

ABJ/BEZENEK

In the hours before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
754 AM AKST FRI DEC 23 2011

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

0900 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 NNW COFFMAN COVE      56.08N 132.88W
12/22/2011                   PKZ036             AK   CO-OP OBSERVER

            BLASHKE ISLAND HAS A WINDOW BREAK AROUND 9 AM THURSDAY
            DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS.

&&

KAV

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.