Gale Warning 169, NWS Anchorage, AK

Issued

Feb 15, 2015, 3:12 PM AKST (00:12 UTC)

Expired

Feb 16, 2015, 3:45 AM AKST

In force

13 hr

Issued by

NWS Anchorage, AK

886 
FZAK52 PAFC 160012
CWFALU

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE ALASKA
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE
ALASKA PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS UP TO 100 NM OUT.

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.

PKZ199-161245-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS...

A 970 MB LOW 220 NM SOUTH OF SAND POINT WILL MOVE TO NEAR COLD
BAY AT 972 MB MON AFTERNOON THEN TO NEAR MEKORYUK TUE AFTERNOON AT
990 MB.

$$

PKZ150-161245-
SOUTH OF THE AK PENINSULA SITKINAK TO CASTLE CAPE-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 50 KT BECOMING SE 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 20
FT. RAIN.
.MON...SE WIND 30 KT BECOMING S 40 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 19
FT. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 20 FT.
.TUE...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT.
.WED...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.THU THROUGH FRI...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.

$$

PKZ155-161245-
SOUTH OF THE AK PENINSULA CASTLE CAPE TO CAPE SARICHEF-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 50 KT BECOMING E 40 KT BY MIDNIGHT. SEAS 20
FT. RAIN.
.MON...SE WIND 35 KT BECOMING S 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 22
FT. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 22 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.FRI...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.

$$

PKZ160-161245-
BRISTOL BAY-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 50 KT DIMINISHING TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.MON...E WIND 35 KT BECOMING SE 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS IN
ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT.
.WED...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 2 FT.
.THU...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT.
.FRI...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT.

$$

PKZ165-161245-
PORT HEIDEN TO CAPE SARICHEF-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 50 KT BECOMING E 40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
17 FT. RAIN.
.MON...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT EXCEPT S 40 KT FROM PORT MOLLER E. SEAS
8 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.WED...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.THU...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.FRI...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.

$$

PKZ170-161245-
CAPE SARICHEF TO NIKOLSKI BERING SIDE-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.MON...N WIND 35 KT BECOMING W 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 15
FT. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.FRI...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.

$$

PKZ171-161245-
UNALASKA BAY-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 35 KT BECOMING NW 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 11
FT SUBSIDING TO 3 FT. RAIN.
.MON...N WIND 10 KT. SEAS 3 FT. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 3 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT.
.WED...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT.
.THU...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT.
.FRI...NE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 3 FT.

$$

PKZ172-161245-
CAPE SARICHEF TO NIKOLSKI PACIFIC SIDE-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 40 KT BECOMING NW 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 16
FT. RAIN.
.MON...W WIND 30 KT BECOMING SW IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 15 FT.
RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.FRI...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.

$$

PKZ173-161245-
NIKOLSKI TO SEGUAM ISLAND BERING SIDE-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
12 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.MON...NW WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
15 FT. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.

$$

PKZ174-161245-
NIKOLSKI TO SEGUAM ISLAND PACIFIC SIDE-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. RAIN.
.MON...NE WIND 25 KT BECOMING NW 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 14
FT. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.

$$

PKZ175-161245-
SEGUAM ISLAND TO ADAK BERING SIDE-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 10 KT BECOMING N 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 7
FT. RAIN.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.TUE...W WIND 20 DIMINISHING TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9
FT.
.TUE NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.

$$

PKZ176-161245-
SEGUAM ISLAND TO ADAK PACIFIC SIDE-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 10 KT BECOMING N WIND 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 6 FT.
.MON...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...W WIND 20 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9
FT.
.TUE NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.WED...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.

$$

PKZ177-161245-
ADAK TO KISKA-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.MON...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.TUE...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.WED...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.

$$

PKZ178-161245-
KISKA TO ATTU-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.WED...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.THU THROUGH FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.

$$

PKZ179-161245-
PRIBILOF ISLANDS NEAR SHORE WATERS-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT BECOMING N 40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 7
FT BUILDING TO 12 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW.
.MON...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.WED THROUGH FRI...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.

$$

PKZ180-161245-
KUSKOKWIM DELTA AND ETOLIN STRAIT-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 50 KT DIMINISHING TO 40 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.MON...E WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS IN
ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.MON NIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT. RAIN AND
SNOW.
.TUE...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT.
.WED...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT.
.THU THROUGH FRI...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT.

$$

PKZ181-161245-
NORTH AND WEST OF NUNIVAK ISLAND-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.MON...NE WIND 35 KT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SNOW.
.TUE...E WIND 15 KT.
.TUE NIGHT...W WIND 15 KT.
.WED...W WIND 15 KT.
.THU THROUGH FRI...NE WIND 15 KT.

$$

PKZ185-161245-
SAINT MATTHEW ISLAND WATERS-
312 PM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. SNOW.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. SNOW. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 10 FT. SNOW.
HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 9 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT.
.WED...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT.
.THU...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT.
.FRI...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT.

$$

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Feb 15, 4:35 AM AKST, 10 hours 37 minutes earlier.

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
435 AM AKST SUN FEB 15 2015

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
THE FLOW ALOFT LOOKS SLIGHTLY MORE ORGANIZED THIS MORNING. THE
MAJOR PLAYER IN THE UPCOMING FORECAST IS TAKING SHAPE IN THE
PACIFIC. THE CENTER OF THE CYCLONIC FLOW CONTINUES TO BE THE
WEAKENING UPPER LOW NOW SOUTH OF THE CENTRAL/EASTERN
ALEUTIANS...HOWEVER TO THE EAST AN IMPRESSIVE LOOKING SHORTWAVE IS
MARCHING NORTH IN A HIGH AMPLITUDE SOUTHERLY FLOW. THE WESTERN
NORTH AMERICA RIDGE IS WELL ESTABLISHED AGAIN AND HAS RECONNECTED
WITH INTERIOR ALASKA RIDGING WHICH SETS THE STAGE FOR THIS WARM
MOIST FRONTAL BOUNDARY.

THE CURRENT SHORTWAVE IS DECAYING AND PUSHING INTO THE SOUTHERN
MAINLAND EARLY THIS MORNING BRINGING SOME WIDESPREAD RAIN/SNOW
FOLLOWED BY WARMER SOUTHERLY WINDS IN MOST AREAS.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
NUMERICAL GUIDANCE IS CONVERGING ON A SOLUTION FOR THE UPCOMING
LOW/FRONT IN THE PACIFIC. THERE IS GREAT AGREEMENT WITH LOW TRACK
AND STRENGTH AS THE LOW CENTER APPROACHES THE EASTERN
ALEUTIANS/ALASKA PENINSULA BUT SOME TRACK DIFFERENCES DO OCCUR
ONCE THE SYSTEM OCCLUDES IN THE BERING SEA. OTHERWISE GUIDANCE
HANDLES THE STRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM MOSTLY THE SAME. FROM A
FRONTAL PERSPECTIVE THE ONLY DIFFERENCES THAT ARISE IN THE
PRECIPITATION FIELD ARE NORMAL DIFFERENCES IN AMOUNT OF DOWNSLOPE
DRYING ALONG THE LINES OF MODEL RESOLUTION.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2)...
THE REMNANTS OF THE UPPER TROUGH PASSING THROUGH THIS MORNING ARE
BRINGING LIGHT FREEZING RAIN TO ANCHORAGE AND THE WESTERN
MATANUSKA VALLEY. PRECIPITATION SHOULD BE LIGHT AND WINDS WILL
FLIP AROUND TO SOUTHERLY THIS MORNING AND QUICKLY WARM SURFACE
TEMPERATURE INTO THE MID 30S. DRIER CONDITIONS WILL FOLLOW FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE DAY WITH SOME BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS. A STRONG WARM
FRONT APPROACHES THE SOUTHCENTRAL TODAY...SPREADING RAIN ALONG
THE NORTH GULF COAST TONIGHT INTO MONDAY...WITH SNOW AT HIGHER
ELEVATION. TURNAGAIN ARM AND HILLSIDE WINDS WILL RAMP UP THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING COINCIDENT WITH THE FRONT AS WELL. THE COOK
INLET REGION WILL REMAIN MOSTLY DRY AND DOWNSLOPED FOR THIS EVENT.
THE FRONT PUSHES INLAND ON MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY BRINGING
ANOTHER PUSH OF SOUTHERLY WINDS ACROSS MOST LOCATIONS.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2)...
A STRONG FRONT AND LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHING THE EASTERN
ALEUTIANS AND ALASKA PENINSULA THIS AFTERNOON WILL SPREAD A MIXED
BAG OF PRECIPITATION OVER THE MAINLAND. THE ALEUTIAN RANGE WILL
REMAIN LARGELY DOWNSLOPED AND DRY WITH STRONG CROSS-BARRIER FLOW
AND GUSTY WINDS...ESPECIALLY THROUGH CHANNELED TERRAIN. PRECIPITATION
WILL START AS SNOW FOR THE PENINSULA BEFORE CHANGING TO RAIN AND
DRYING OUT OVERNIGHT INTO MONDAY. INTERIOR BRISTOL BAY WILL SEE
SNOW SPREADING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH THIS EVENING BEFORE A WARM
LAYER PUSHES IN AND CHANGES SNOW TO RAIN AND FREEZING RAIN. THE
FRONT WILL PUSH INTO THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA OVERNIGHT AND BRING A
SIMILAR TRANSITION FROM SNOW TO FREEZING RAIN. THE REMAINDER OF
THE SYSTEM WILL LINGER IN THE AREA THROUGH MONDAY KEEPING SNOW AND
RAIN SHOWERS IN THE FORECAST FOR MOST AREA.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (DAYS 1 AND 2)...
A FRONTAL BOUNDARY APPROACHING THE ALASKA PENINSULA WILL SPREAD
RAIN AND STRONG EASTERLY WINDS OVER THE EASTERN FOLLOWED BY THE
CENTRAL BERING SEA. AS THE FRONT SWINGS OVER THE PRIBILOF ISLAND
EARLY MONDAY MORNING GUSTY WINDS AND FALLING SNOW BRING ANOTHER
BLOWING SNOW EVENT TO THE AREA. THE FRONT DISSIPATES LATE MONDAY
LEAVING SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS LINGERING ACROSS THE BERING.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (DAYS 3 THROUGH 7)...
THE UPPER LEVEL CLOSED LOW NEAR 41N 178W WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY
MOVE EAST THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND. THIS SYNOPTIC FEATURE WILL CONTINUE
TO SEND SHORTWAVES THROUGH THE EASTERN BERING SEA AND THE
SOUTHWEST/SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA REGION. THIS WILL BRING WARMER
TEMPERATURES AND MOISTURE WITH CONTINUED SOUTHERLY FLOW THROUGH
THE GULF BEFORE MOVING INTO THE INLAND AREAS. THE NORTHERN GULF
COASTLINES WILL RECEIVE THE MAJORITY OF THE PRECIPITATION.
WHILE...THE ANCHORAGE BOWL AND WESTERN KENAI PENINSULA WILL HAVE
DOWNSLOPE DRYING CONDITIONS. THE INLAND AREAS WILL CONTINUE TO
HAVE SHOWERY PRECIPITATION WITH EACH SHORTWAVE AS THEY PUSH
THROUGH THE REGION HEADING INTO NEXT WEEKEND. THE BERING SEA WILL
CONTINUE IN SHOWERY PRECIPITATION WITH WINDS REMAINING OUT OF THE
NORTH TO NORTHEAST DIRECTION WITH HIGH PRESSURE LOCATED OVER THE
SIBERIAN REGION.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY...101 111 155.
         BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY...195.
MARINE...STORM WARNING...119 120 130 131 132 138 150 155.
         GALE WARNING...125 129 136 137 139 141 160 165 170 171
                        173 179 180 185.
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING...185.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...MTL
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...MTL
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...MTL
LONG TERM...PLD

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2015Every gale warning in 2015

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