Gale Warning 133, NWS Anchorage, AK

817 
FZAK62 PAFC 072353
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST TUE FEB 7 2012

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.

PKZ499-081500-
400 PM AKST TUE FEB 7 2012
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 962 MB LOW OVER THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC WILL WEAKEN TO 971 MB NEAR
55N 159W WED NIGHT THEN DISSIPATE NEAR 57N 163W THU MORNING. 
A 977 MB LOW NEAR 48N 158W WILL STRENGTHEN TO 958 MB NEAR 51N 169E
THU AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST TUE FEB 7 2012

...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N OF 55N...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. S OF 55N...VARIABLE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT.  
.WED...E WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...NE WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 15 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST TUE FEB 7 2012

...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E OF 176W...N WIND 30 KT. W OF 176W...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS
3 TO 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED NIGHT...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SAT AND SUN...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 

$$

PKZ413-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST TUE FEB 7 2012

.TONIGHT...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...N TO E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT BECOMING NW 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI AND SAT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-081500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST TUE FEB 7 2012

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

.TONIGHT...N WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. SNOW.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED...N WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. RAIN AND
SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.WED NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT.
.THU...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT.
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 15 FT.  

$$

467 
FZAK62 PAFC 081226
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST WED FEB 8 2012

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.

PKZ499-090300-
400 AM AKST WED FEB 8 2012
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 962 MB LOW NEAR 51N 158W WILL WEAKEN TO 971 MB NEAR 55N 160W WED
NIGHT THEN DISSIPATE NEAR 56N 166W THU MORNING. A 962 MB LOW NEAR 
49N 161E WED NIGHT WILL MOVE TO NEAR 51N 171E THU NIGHT.

$$

PKZ411-090300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKST WED FEB 8 2012

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

.TODAY...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT INCREASING TO 30 TO 40 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 13 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NE WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 13
FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-090300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST WED FEB 8 2012

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

.TODAY...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 TO 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 25 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 11 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-090300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST WED FEB 8 2012

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...N WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT BECOMING NW 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.FRI THROUGH SAT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-090300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKST WED FEB 8 2012

...GALE WARNING TODAY...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...N WIND 35 KT TO 45 KT DIMINISHING TO NE 20 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT. 
.THU...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 12 FT. 
.SUN...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT.  

$$

520 
FZAK62 PAFC 090001
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST WED FEB 8 2012

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.

PKZ499-091500-
400 PM AKST WED FEB 8 2012
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 962 MB LOW NEAR 52N 157W WILL WEAKEN TO 973 MB NEAR 57N 160W THU
MORNING THEN DISSIPATE NEAR 57N 160W THU AFTERNOON. A 962 MB LOW NEAR
50N 162E WILL MOVE TO NEAR 52N 175E AT 966 MB FRI AFTERNOON. A 962 MB
LOW NEAR 45N 171W THU EVENING WILL MOVE TO NEAR 49N 163W AT 954 MB
FRI AFTERNOON. 
$$

PKZ411-091500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST WED FEB 8 2012

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

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. WEST OF 167E...E WIND 35
TO 45 KT. SEAS 17 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY NORTH OF 57N. 
.THU...NE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY
NORTH OF 57N. 
.THU NIGHT...NE TO SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY
NORTH OF 57N. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  
$$

PKZ412-091500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST WED FEB 8 2012

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 30 KT BECOMING NE 15 TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
9 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SOUTH OF 57N...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT
BECOMING SW IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 8 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY
NORTH OF 57N. 
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT...EXCEPT E 20 KT NORTH OF 58N IN THE
EVENING. SEAS 6 FT. SNOW. NORTH OF 58N...FREEZING SPRAY IN THE
EVENING. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT AND SAT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  
$$

PKZ413-091500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST WED FEB 8 2012

.TONIGHT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT BECOMING NW 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
11 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...W WIND 10 TO 20 KT BECOMING S IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  
$$

PKZ414-091500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST WED FEB 8 2012

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SOUTH OF 56N...WINDS BECOMING NW 15
KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. SNOW.
.THU...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SOUTH OF 56N...NW WIND 20 KT BECOMING SW
IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT.
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT AND SAT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. 
.SUN...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT.  
$$

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST MON FEB 6 2012

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...THE WARM CORE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE
STRETCHES UP THE WESTERN COAST OF NORTH AMERICA INTO THE EASTERN HALF
OF THE STATE. THE UPPER LEVEL LOW REMAINS CENTERED OVER THE KAMCHATKA
PENINSULA WITH A TROUGH EXTENDING SOUTHEAST OVER THE ALEUTIAN
ISLANDS. THIS IS PRODUCING DUE SOUTH UPPER LEVEL FLOW OVER THE
EASTERN BERING SEA AND WESTERN ALASKA. THIS ALSO SERVES AS THE
BOUNDARY FOR THE WEATHER FRONT THAT IS BRINGING PRECIPITATION TO
SOUTHWEST ALASKA.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...YESTERDAY THE THOUGHT WAS THAT THE ECMWF MODEL
WAS ERRANT IN SLOWING DOWN THE LARGE LOW APPROACHING THE GULF OF
ALASKA FROM THE SOUTH. THE GFS WAS FAVORED DUE TO THE UPPER LEVEL
PATTERN AND THE WAY THAT INFLUENCES THE STORM TRACK. HOWEVER THE
UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IS STRONGER THAN THE GFS OR NAM MODEL HAS BEEN
INDICATING AND THEREFORE IT LOOKS LIKE THE ECMWF WAS THE MODEL THAT
WAS THE BEST CHOICE. THE STRONGER RIDGE IS PREVENTING THE MOVEMENT OF
THE LOW FROM MOVING FARTHER NORTH AND SLOWING ITS OVERALL SPEED AS
WELL. THE ECMWF IS THE MODEL OF CHOICE TODAY AND THE NEWER RUNS OF
THE GFS ARE SERVICEABLE AS WELL. THE NAM IS STILL TO AGGRESSIVE IN
PUSHING THE LOW TO THE NORTHWEST AND IS NOT BEING USED FOR THE
AFTERNOON PACKAGES.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...THE WEATHER FRONT OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA IS
PUSHING WESTWARD. A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW IS OCCURRING IN THAT AREA AS
TEMPERATURES HAVE GENERALLY WARMED INTO THE 30S. THE WARM AIR ALOFT
IS ALSO IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE AS TEMPERATURES AT HIGHER
ELEVATION AROUND ANCHORAGE HAVE WARMED INTO THE LOWER 40S THIS
AFTERNOON...AS HAVE PORTIONS OF THE KENAI PENINSULA AND THE GULF
COAST AROUND PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND.
THE BIGGEST CONCERN AT THIS TIME IS THE RAIN THAT WILL OCCUR IN
KODIAK TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IT CURRENTLY LOOKS LIKE
THERE SHOULD BE AROUND 1 TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN DURING THAT PERIOD IN
KODIAK CITY WITH HALF COMING IN THE TUESDAY NIGHT PERIOD. THE FROZEN
GROUND AND TWO FOOT SNOW DEPTH WILL CAUSE CONSIDERABLE PONDING IN THE
AREAS AS WELL AS THE CHANCE OF MINOR FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS THAT
ARE POORLY DRAINED.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...THE WEATHER PATTERN CURRENTLY AFFECTING THE
STATE WILL PERSIST THROUGH MUCH OF THE WEEK. WEATHER OVER MUCH OF THE
MAINLAND WILL BE CHARACTERIZED BY WARM SOUTHERLY FLOW WITH MOST OF
THE CLOUDINESS AND SHOWERS LIMITED TO COASTAL AREAS. BY THE END
OF THE WEEK COOLER AIR WILL SLOWLY FILTER BACK INTO THE MAINLAND.
THE MOST ACTIVE WEATHER FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE WILL CONTINUE TO
BE CONFINED PRIMARILY TO THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN REGION AS WELL
AS KODIAK ISLAND.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...GALE 130 132 138 150 155 170 176.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

FEB 12