Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2012

Gale Warning 72, NWS Fairbanks, AK

October 4, 2012

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Oct 4, 2012, 2:30 PM AKDT. 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
Oct 4, 2012, 2:30 PM AKDT (22:30 UTC)
Expired
Oct 5, 2012, 2:18 PM AKDT
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

875 
FZAK52 PAFG 042230
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
230 PM AKDT THU OCT 4 2012

NORTHWESTERN ALASKA COASTAL WATERS 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 WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ299-051330-
230 PM AKDT THU OCT 4 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 970 MB LOW IN THE CENTRAL BERING SEA WILL MOVE NORTH TO THE
BERING STRAIT BY 10 PM AKDT FRI AND WEAKEN TO 989 MB. THE ASSOCIATED
WEAKENING WEATHER FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS CHUKCHI SEA THU NIGHT.

$$

PKZ200-051330-
NORTON SOUND-
230 PM AKDT THU OCT 4 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT INCREASING TO 40 KT. SEAS 5 FT BUILDING
TO 8 FT. FOG.
.FRI...SE WINDS 45 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT...S WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN...S WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...NE WINDS 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.MON...N WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.  

$$

PKZ210-051330-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
230 PM AKDT THU OCT 4 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 45 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.FRI...S WINDS 45 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SUN...S WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

PKZ215-051330-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
230 PM AKDT THU OCT 4 2012

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.FRI...SE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FOG.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SAT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.SUN...S WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...S WINDS 5 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.MON...N WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT.  

$$

PKZ220-051330-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
230 PM AKDT THU OCT 4 2012

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.FRI...SE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FOG.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

JL./RT OCT 12
2 follow-up statements
505 
FZAK52 PAFG 051052
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
252 AM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

NORTHWESTERN ALASKA COASTAL WATERS 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 WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ299-060200-
252 AM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 979 MB LOW NEAR ST LAWRENCE ISLAND WILL MOVE NORTH TO
THE BERING STRAIT BY 4 AM AKDT SAT AND WEAKEN TO 993 MB.
THE ASSOCIATED WEAKENING WEATHER FRONT WILL MOVE OFF THE
BEAUFORT SEA COAST FRI AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ200-060200-
NORTON SOUND-
252 AM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...S WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.SAT...S WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 10 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.MON...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ210-060200-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
252 AM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...SE WINDS 40 KT BECOMING S 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...SW WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.MON...NE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  

$$

PKZ215-060200-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
252 AM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...SE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.SAT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT. SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.MON...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT.  

$$

PKZ220-060200-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
252 AM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE
FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.SAT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SUN...NW WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

CF/SDB OCT 12
809 
FZAK52 PAFG 052218
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
218 PM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

NORTHWESTERN ALASKA COASTAL WATERS 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 WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ299-061200-
218 PM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A 983 MB LOW NORTHWEST OF SAINT LAWRENCE ISLAND WILL MOVE TO THE
BERING STRAIT BY 4 AM AKDT SAT AND WEAKEN TO 993 MB...AND THEN TO
100 NM SOUTHWEST OF POINT HOPE AND WEAKEN TO 1002 MB BY 4 PM AKDT SAT.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER CHUKOTKA SAT NIGHT AND SUN.

$$

PKZ200-061200-
NORTON SOUND-
218 PM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S WINDS DECREASING TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FOG... RAIN.
.SAT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. F 
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT.  
.MON NIGHT...NE WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT.  

$$

PKZ210-061200-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
218 PM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...S WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...S WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  
.MON...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  
.MON NIGHT...NE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$

PKZ215-061200-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
218 PM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.SAT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SUN...SW WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT.  
.MON...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT.  
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT.  

$$

PKZ220-061200-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
218 PM AKDT FRI OCT 5 2012

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...SE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.SAT...S WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FOG...RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...S WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FOG.
.SUN...NW WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...NE WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

JL/RT OCT 12

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 Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Oct 4, 5:04 AM AKDT, 9 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 4, 5:04 AM AKDT, 9 hours 26 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
504 AM AKDT THU OCT 4 2012

.DISCUSSION...
MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT THROUGH 48 HOURS AND BECOMING MUCH
CLOSER IN MID RANGE AS WELL. THE GFS HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT AND
ERRATIC OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS WHILE THE ECMWF HAS BEEN VERY
CONSISTENT AND CONSTANT EVEN THROUGH MID RANGE. SO AT THIS
TIME...PUTTING SUPPORT WITH ECMWF.

RELATIVELY STRONG LOW HAS MOVED INTO THE BERING SEA AND IS MOVING
NORTHWARD EVER SO SLOWLY. BECAUSE OF THE SLOW PROGRESSION...THIS IS
SETTING THE STAGE FOR PROLONGED HIGH VELOCITY WINDS OVER A FAIRLY
SUBSTANTIAL FETCH...PARTICULARLY ALONG THE BERING STRAIT COAST.
FOR THESE REASONS...A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR
ZONES 211 AND 213. THE SURGE VALUES ARE BEING FORECAST TO BE
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 4 AND 5 FT WHICH IS GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT
EFFECT ON MANY AREAS.

AS THE FRONT PUSHES EASTWARD TO BE JUST INLAND OF THE WEST COAST
BY THIS EVENING AND THEN MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION AND FRONTAL
BOUNDARY WILL MOVE NORTH OF THE ARCTIC COAST BY FRI AFTERNOON.

THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WITH THE CENTER LOCATED IN THE NORTH
PACIFIC WITH A VERY IMPRESSIVE 590H CENTER WILL MOMENTARILY HOLD
OFF THE BERING LOW. BY FRI NIGHT THE LOW ON THE WEST COAST BEGINS
TO FORCE THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE TO THE EAST. THIS WILL BRING IN
SUBSTANTIALLY COOLER AIR FOR NORTHERN INTERIOR AFTER THE BRIEF
WARM-UP TODAY AND FRI. THE RIDGE FLATTENS OUT OVER THE NORTHERN
PART OF THE STATE WHILE AN UPPER LEVEL LOW FAR TO THE NORTH OF THE
NORTH SLOPE WILL SEND IN REINFORCING COLD AIR BACK INTO ALASKA.

WINDS ALONG THE WEST COAST AND THE NORTHWEST ARCTIC COAST WILL BE
INCREASING THROUGH THE DAY AHEAD OF THE TIGHT GRADIENT ASSOCIATED
THE BERING LOW. SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH WINDS OVER THE AREA GUSTING TO
55 MPH WILL BE FAIRLY NORMAL OVER ZONES SUCH 211 AND 213.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FOR AKZ211-AKZ213.

HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR AKZ212.

COASTAL FLOOD WATCH FOR AKZ214.

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-
PKZ235.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ215.
&&

CF OCT 12

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 4, 3:57 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG23 hr
Oct 4, 3:58 AM AKDTGale WarningAFG34 hr
Oct 4, 4:04 AM AKDTCoastal Flood WarningAFG54 hr
Oct 4, 10:30 AM AKDTWind AdvisoryAFG19 hr
Oct 4, 2:31 PM AKDTGale WarningAFG12 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2012Every gale warning in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.