Gale Warning 76, NWS Juneau, AK

Issued

Jan 21, 2012, 4:00 AM AKST (13:00 UTC)

Expired

Jan 21, 2012, 4:00 PM AKST

In force

12 hr

Issued by

NWS Juneau, AK

967 
FZAK51 PAJK 211223
CWFAJK

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

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.

PKZ098-220100-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA INNER CHANNELS COASTAL WATERS...
A STORM FORCE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE SE GULF WILL WEAKEN
AND MOVE N THROUGH THE FAR EASTERN GULF SAT AND REACH THE NE
GULF NEAR YAKUTAT BY LATE SAT NIGHT. A BROAD LOW PRESSURE AREA
WILL DEVELOP OVER THE FAR NW GULF LATE SAT INTO SUN MORNING.

$$

PKZ011-220100-
GLACIER BAY-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N WIND INCREASING TO 40 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 8 FT.
FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW.
.TONIGHT...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW.
.SUN...N WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 4
FT. FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW.
.TUE...N GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ012-220100-
NORTHERN LYNN CANAL-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...STORM WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N WIND 50 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW.
.TONIGHT...N WIND 50 KT DIMINISHING TO 40 KT LATE. SEAS 10 FT
SUBSIDING TO 8 FT LATE. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW.
.SUN...N GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW.
.TUE...N GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 

$$

PKZ013-220100-
SOUTHERN LYNN CANAL-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 FT.
FREEZING SPRAY. SNOW.
.TONIGHT...N WIND 40 KT DIMINISHING LATE. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY. SNOW.
.SUN...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW.
.TUE...N GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ021-220100-
ICY STRAIT-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. SNOW.
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT LATE. SEAS 7 FT.
SNOW.
.SUN...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.MON...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW.
.TUE...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ022-220100-
CROSS SOUND-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 FT.
SNOW.
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT LATE. SEAS 8 FT.
SNOW.
.SUN...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. W SWELL. SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. SW SWELL. SNOW.
.MON...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. SNOW.
.TUE...NE GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.WED...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 

$$

PKZ031-220100-
STEPHENS PASSAGE-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N WIND 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
GUSTS TO 60 KT OUT OF INTERIOR PASSES. SEAS 8 FT SUBSIDING TO
6 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. FREEZING SPRAY IN THE MORNING. SNOW.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. SNOW.
.SUN...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW.
.TUE...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ032-220100-
NORTHERN CHATHAM STRAIT-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. SNOW.
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT BECOMING S LATE. SEAS 6 FT. SNOW.
.SUN...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW...RAIN.
.TUE...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ033-220100-
SOUTHERN CHATHAM STRAIT-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...GALE WARNING TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
5 FT BUILDING TO 7 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. NEAR OCEAN ENTRANCES...
SEAS 13 FT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT LATE. SEAS 8 FT
SUBSIDING TO 6 FT LATE. NEAR OCEAN ENTRANCES...SEAS 16 FT. RAIN
AND SNOW.
.SUN...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT...EXCEPT 11 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES. 
.SUN NIGHT...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT...EXCEPT 7 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES. RAIN.
.MON...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 5 FT...EXCEPT 8 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TUE...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 

$$

PKZ034-220100-
FREDERICK SOUND-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...GALE WARNING TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS
TO 50 KT OUT OF INTERIOR PASSES. SEAS 5 FT BUILDING TO 7 FT IN
THE AFTERNOON. SNOW.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT LATE. GUSTS TO 55 KT
OUT OF INTERIOR PASSES. SEAS 7 FT. SNOW.
.SUN...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW...RAIN.
.TUE...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 

$$

PKZ035-220100-
SUMNER STRAIT-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...GALE WARNING TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E WIND INCREASING TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 7 FT.
SNOW.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT LATE. SEAS 
7 FT...EXCEPT 12 FT NEAR OCEAN ENTRANCES. SNOW AND RAIN.
.SUN...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. SNOW WITH RAIN. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. SNOW.
.MON...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. SNOW...RAIN.
.TUE...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 

$$

PKZ036-220100-
CLARENCE STRAIT-
400 AM AKST SAT JAN 21 2012 

...GALE WARNING TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND INCREASING TO 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 7 FT.
SNOW AND RAIN. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 40 KT DIMINISHING LATE. SEAS 8 FT...EXCEPT 11 FT
NEAR OCEAN ENTRANCES. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SUN...SE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT...EXCEPT 4 FT NEAR OCEAN
ENTRANCES. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SUN NIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. SNOW.
.MON...SE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 6 FT. SNOW...RAIN.
.TUE...SE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 

$$

NWS Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Jan 20, 4:53 PM AKST, 11 hours 7 minutes earlier.

SOUTHEAST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
453 PM AKST FRI JAN 20 2012

.SHORT TERM...A COMPLEX WINTER STORM WILL MOVE INTO THE
SOUTHEAST GULF SATURDAY THEN WEAKENS AS IT LIFTS NORTH SATURDAY
NIGHT. AHEAD OF THIS LOW STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS WARRANT HWW FOR
18-19-25 AND STORMS FOR LYNN CANAL AND CROSS SOUND. STRONG WINDS
AND GALES ELSEWHERE. THESE WINDS WILL DIMINISH SLOWLY FROM THE
SOUTH. AS THEY DO SNOW WILL DEVELOP. WILL KEEP WSW FOR HEAVY SNOW
IN PAOH DUE TO FAVORABLE EAST UP SLOPE. MAIN SNOW COMES LATER
SATURDAY FOR THE NORTH.

 IN THE SOUTHERN PANHANDLE PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE
TONIGHT AS BANDS MOVE ONSHORE. EXPECT AROUND ANOTHER 6 INCHES
TONIGHT AND CONTINUING WITH ANOTHER 6 INCHES FOR ZONE 26 ON SAT.
RAIN WILL MIX WITH SNOW ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST. A MIX OF RAIN
AND SNOW IS EXPECTED AS NEXT FRONTAL BAND LIFTS NORTH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON. WINDS HEAR LOCALLY STRONG NE BUT WILL DIMINISH TONIGHT
AND GO SE ON SAT.

.LONG TERM...THE FORECAST MODELS ARE IN FAIR AGREEMENT THROUGH SUN
NIGHT BUT THEN DIVERAGE WITH THE TRACK AND STRENGTHEN OF THE NEXT
LOW THAT WILL MOVE OVER THE EASTERN GULF TUE. THERE IS GOOD MODEL
AGREEMENT THAT A UPPER LEVEL POLAR VORTEX OVER THE NORTHERN GULF
WILL REMAIN OVER THE NORTHERN GULF THROUGH MOST OF THE WEEK. THIS
FEATURE WILL KEEP THE REGION BELOW NORMAL TEMPS AND WITH SHORTWAVE
ENERGY ROTATING AROUND THE LOW SNOW WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA.
THERE IS A POTENTIALLY STRONG WEATHER SYSTEM THAT WILL MOVE INTO
THE EASTERN GULF TUE AND COULD PRODUCE VERY STRONG WINDS ALONG
WITH SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SNOW OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE
FORECAST AREA. LATER SHIFTS WILL NEED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THIS
SYSTEM FOR TUE. IN THE NEAR TERM USED MANLY THE GFS WITH SOME EC
THROUGH SUN NIGHT.

AT THE START OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD THE WEATHER WILL CONTINUE TO
BE VERY COMPLEX WITH WARM MOIST AIR LIFTING OVER THE NORTHERN HALF
OF THE FORECAST AREA AND INTERACTING WITH A DEEP ARCTIC AIRMASS.
THE SURFACE LOW WILL BE JUST WEST OF POW BY SAT AFTERNOON AND
BEGIN TO WEAKEN AS IT LIFTS NORTH AND TRANSFER ENERGY INTO THE
NORTHERN GULF AND FORM A NEW LOW. AS THE LOW WEAKENS MOST OF THE
STRONG WINDS FROM THE NORTH AND INTERIOR PASSES WILL RELAX THROUGH
SAT NIGHT. AS THE WINDS DIMINISH SNOW WILL INCREASE FROM
SIGNIFICANT LIFTING FROM OVERRUNNING THE COLD AIR ALONG WITH
UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS. THE UPPER LEVEL TROF WILL DRIFT RIGHT OVER
THE NORTHERN INNER CHANNELS LATE SAT NIGHT INTO SUN. ALL OF THIS
WILL PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SNOW FROM THE ZONE 26 NORTHWARD
WITH 1 TO 2 FEET POSSIBLE BY SUN AFTERNOON. THE PRECIP WILL TAPER
OFF THROUGH SUN NIGHT WITH THE LACK OF UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT. THE
SOUTHERN AREAS WILL SEE A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW WITH LOCAL AREAS
SEEING UP TO 4 INCHES. FROM SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY EARLY
AFTERNOON THERE WILL A SLIGHT LULL IN THE PRECIP BUT THE SOUTHERN
AREAS WILL SEE A UPPER AND SURFACE TROF ROTATE AROUND THE PARENT
UPPER LOW OVER THE NORTHERN GULF AND LIFT OVER MON AFTERNOON/NIGHT
AND PRODUCE SOME MIXED PRECIP OVER THE FAR SOUTHERN AREAS AND A
FEW INCHES OVER THE NORTHERN AREAS.

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 5 AM AKST SUNDAY FOR AKZ021-024-026-
     029.
         WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 5 AM AKST SATURDAY FOR AKZ023-027.
         HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 5 AM AKST SATURDAY FOR AKZ018-019-025.
         WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 3 AM AKST SATURDAY THROUGH LATE SATURDAY
     NIGHT FOR AKZ020-022.
         WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 9 AM AKST SATURDAY FOR AKZ028.
         WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL NOON AKST SATURDAY FOR AKZ018.
         STRONG WIND THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR AKZ017.
MARINE...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ013-053.
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ011-031.
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ012.
         STORM WARNING FOR PKZ012-013-022-043-053.
         GALE WARNING FOR PKZ011-021-031>036-041-042-051-052.

&&

MM/ABJ

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2012Every gale warning in 2012

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