Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2014

Gale Warning 241, NWS Anchorage, AK

March 12, 2014

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Mar 12, 2014, 4:00 AM 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
Mar 12, 2014, 4:00 AM AKDT (12:00 UTC)
Expired
Mar 13, 2014, 4:00 AM AKDT
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

442 
FZAK61 PAFC 121142
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-130300-
400 AM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A WEATHER FRONT ENTERS THE SW GULF THIS AFTERNOON AND TRACKS TO THE
NORTHERN GULF LATE TONIGHT. A 969 MB LOW AT 53N 161W WED AFTERNOON
WILL MOVE TO 57N 148W AT 971 MB THU EVENING THEN MOVE TO 60N 152W AT
980 MB FRI MORNING. THIS LOW MOVES INLAND AND DISSIPATES FRI EVENING.
$$

PKZ351-130300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...SW WIND 25 KT BECOMING S 40 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 17 FT.
RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
18 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.THU...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 17 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 23 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-130300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...S WIND 30 KT BECOMING SE 40 KT DURING THE MORNING. SEAS 18
FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 40 KT BECOMING SE 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
18 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.THU...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.THU NIGHT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  

$$

JAM
2 follow-up statements
829 
FZAK61 PAFC 122255
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-131200-
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 966 MB LOW AT 52N 163W WILL MOVE TO 56N 150W THU AFTERNOON AT 975
MB THEN TO 59N 149W LATE FRI MORNING. THIS LOW WILL MOVE TO 61N 150W
FRI AFTERNOON AND WEAKEN TO 983 MB. 
$$

PKZ351-131200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 13 TO 17 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN
AND SNOW. 
.THU...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 15 TO 18 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.THU NIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN
AND SNOW SHOWERS. 
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 TO 23 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH MON...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-131200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 30 TO 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 15 TO 18 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.THU...VARIABLE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 TO 18 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN
SHOWERS AND SNOW. 
.THU NIGHT...SW WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 14 TO 26 FT.
.FRI...W WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 16 TO 27 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH MON...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.  

$$
730 
FZAK61 PAFC 130314 RRA
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST...RETRANSMITTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
714 PM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014

RETRANSMISSION

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-131200-
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 966 MB LOW AT 52N 163W WILL MOVE TO 56N 150W THU AFTERNOON AT 975
MB THEN TO 59N 149W LATE FRI MORNING. THIS LOW WILL MOVE TO 61N 150W
FRI AFTERNOON AND WEAKEN TO 983 MB. 
$$

PKZ351-131200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 13 TO 17 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN
AND SNOW. 
.THU...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 15 TO 18 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.THU NIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN
AND SNOW SHOWERS. 
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 TO 23 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH MON...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-131200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 12 2014

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 30 TO 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 15 TO 18 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.THU...VARIABLE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 TO 18 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN
SHOWERS AND SNOW. 
.THU NIGHT...SW WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 14 TO 26 FT.
.FRI...W WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 16 TO 27 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT. 
.SAT...NW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH MON...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.  

$$

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 Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Mar 11, 2:00 PM AKDT, 14 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 11, 2:00 PM AKDT, 14 hours before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
200 PM AKDT TUE MAR 11 2014

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
THE MEAN TROUGH POSITION IS LOCATED JUST WEST OF MAINLAND ALASKA.
THE CENTRAL UPPER LOW IN THIS TROUGH IS CENTERED OVER THE NORTHERN
BERING SEA. THERE IS A SHORT-WAVE TROUGH PUSHING THROUGH NORTHWARD
THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA...AND ANOTHER OVER JUST SOUTHWEST OF
SOUTHWEST ALASKA. THERE IS A LOW SOUTH OF THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS
MOVING EAST...PUSHED ALONG BY A NEARLY ZONAL JET STREAM ACROSS THE
NORTHERN PACIFIC.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
THE NUMERICAL MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH 36 HOURS
(WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) WITH JUST SOME MINOR DISAGREEMENTS ON
LOCATION/STRENGTH OF LOW THAT WILL BE SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA
LATER WEDNESDAY. DIVERGENCES THEN BECOME LARGER THROUGH THE REST OF
THE FORECAST (TO 84 HOURS OR FRIDAY AFTERNOON). CONFIDENCE IN THE
OVER-ALL PATTERN IS GOOD...OFFSET BY THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE SMALLER
DETAILS GIVES A FORECAST CONFIDENCE OF NEAR NORMAL.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA...THE SHORT-WAVE TROUGH OVER THE AREA WILL
SLOWLY MOVE THROUGH TONIGHT.THE SHORT-WAVE OFF THE SOUTHWEST COAST
WILL PUSH INTO SOUTH CENTRAL WEDNESDAY MORNING AND THEN THROUGH THE
AREA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THESE WILL BRING A GOOD CHANCE OF
PRECIPITATION WITH RAIN/SNOW CHANGING TO MOSTLY SNOW BY MORNING WITH
COLD AIR FROM SOUTHWEST ALASKA WRAPPING AROUND THE LOW. TOTAL
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WILL BE FAIRLY LIGHT FOR MOST AREAS AS THE
MOISTURE IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED.

THE MAIN FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEXT LOW...CURRENTLY SOUTH OF THE
WESTERN ALEUTIANS...WILL PUSH INTO SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA ON WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BRING A SLUG OF DECENT PRECIPITATION TO COASTAL
AREAS...WITH MORE LIMITED PRECIPITATION INLAND DUE MAINLY TO
DOWNSLOPE FACTORS. WINDS WILL INCREASE AGAIN ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND
HIGHER ELEVATIONS...POSSIBLY APPROACHING WARNING LEVELS. THIS SYSTEM
WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE AREA THROUGH FRIDAY.

FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA...DECENT CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH TONIGHT...THEN TAPER OFF BEHIND THE SOUTHWEST COAST
SHORT-WAVE AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. FRONTAL PRECIPITATION WILL
MOVE INTO SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND
SPREAD NORTH THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL MERGE WITH
THE NORTHERN BERING UPPER LOW...WHICH WILL SLOWLY SLIDE SOUTHEAST
THROUGH FRIDAY. AS A RESULT...GOOD CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION AND
FAIRLY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE AREA THROUGH
FRIDAY.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...HIGH WIND WARNING 101.
MARINE...STORM WARNING 119 155.
         GALE WARNING 120 125 130 131 132 138 150 160 165 170 172
                        176 177 178 180.
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 160 179 180.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

LUDWIG MAR 14

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC60 hr
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC48 hr
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC48 hr
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTStorm WarningAFC60 hr
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTStorm WarningAFC24 hr
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC4 days
Mar 11, 4:00 PM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC36 hr
Mar 11, 4:09 PM AKDTHigh Wind WatchAFC13 hr
Mar 11, 4:34 PM AKDTBlizzard WatchAFC12 hr
Mar 11, 4:34 PM AKDTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFC44 hr
Mar 12, 4:00 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC60 hr
Mar 12, 4:00 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC36 hr
Mar 12, 4:00 AM AKDTStorm WarningAFC12 hr
Mar 12, 4:40 AM AKDTBlizzard WarningAFC25 hr
Mar 12, 4:47 AM AKDTHigh Wind WarningAFC27 hr
Mar 12, 11:20 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC5 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2014Every gale warning in 2014

Sources

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