Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2015
Gale Warning 321, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Apr 21, 2015, 3:44 AM AKDT. It was in force for 35 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
- Apr 21, 2015, 3:44 AM AKDT (11:44 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 22, 2015, 3:10 PM AKDT
- In force
- 35 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
069 FZAK62 PAFC 211144 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 344 AM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 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. PKZ499-220100- 344 AM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...A 998 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL STRENGTHEN TO 979 MB NEAR 55N 152W TUE NIGHT AND WILL THEN TRACK TO THE EASTERN GULF WED NIGHT. A 980 MB KAMCHATKA LOW WILL MOVE TO 54N 177E AT 980 MB BY WED NIGHT. THE ASSOCIATED WEATHER FRONT WILL CROSS THE WESTERN BERING TUE EVENING AND MOVE INTO THE EASTERN BERING BY WED AFTERNOON. $$ PKZ411-220100- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE- 344 AM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 .TODAY...W TO S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY IN THE MORNING. .TONIGHT...SE TO SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. .WED...SE TO SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .WED NIGHT...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 TO 17 FT. .THU THROUGH FRI...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. .SAT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. $$ PKZ412-220100- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N- 344 AM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 .TODAY...W WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY IN THE MORNING. .TONIGHT...W TO S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY AFTER MIDNIGHT N OF 58N. .WED...SE TO SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. FREEZING SPRAY IN THE MORNING N OF 58N. .WED NIGHT...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. .THU...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. .FRI THROUGH SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. $$ PKZ413-220100- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N- 344 AM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY... .TODAY...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. .TONIGHT...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT BECOMING S 20 TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .WED...S TO W WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .WED NIGHT...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 12 TO 15 FT. .THU THROUGH SAT...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. $$ PKZ414-220100- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W- 344 AM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 ...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY... .TODAY...W WIND 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT. .TONIGHT...SW WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT. .WED...S WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 4 TO 10 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. .WED NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. .THU...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. .FRI THROUGH SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. $$
3 follow-up statements
835 FZAK62 PAFC 212249 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 249 PM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. PKZ499-221300- 249 PM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 988 MB LOW NEAR 53N 156W WILL STRENGTHEN TO 979 MB NEAR 55N 151W TUE NIGHT AND THEN WEAKEN AS IT EXITS TO THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC ON WED. A 975 MB LOW NEAR 54N 163E WILL TRACK TO 54N 176W THU AFTERNOON AT 985 MB. AN ASSOCIATED FRONT OVER THE WESTERN BERING WILL WEAKEN AS IT TRACKS TO THE NORTHERN TO EASTERN BERING WED NIGHT. $$ PKZ411-221300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE- 249 PM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...S WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 TO 15 FT. PATCHY FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. .WED...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 16 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .WED NIGHT...SE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 TO 17 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. .THU NIGHT...NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 13 FT. .FRI...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. .SAT THROUGH SUN...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. $$ PKZ412-221300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N- 249 PM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 .TONIGHT...W WIND 10 TO 20 KT BECOMING SW 15 TO 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT. SNOW. .WED...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. PATCHY FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. .WED NIGHT...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU...SE WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. .THU NIGHT...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. .FRI THROUGH SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. .SUN...SE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT. $$ PKZ413-221300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N- 249 PM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY... .TONIGHT...W WIND 15 TO 25 KT BECOMING SW 20 TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .WED...SW WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. .WED NIGHT...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 11 TO 14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 11 TO 14 FT. .THU NIGHT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 13 FT. .FRI THROUGH SAT...NW WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. .SUN...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. $$ PKZ414-221300- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W- 249 PM AKDT TUE APR 21 2015 ...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY... .TONIGHT...SW WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT. .WED...S WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 5 TO 9 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. .WED NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU...S WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. .THU NIGHT...SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. .FRI THROUGH SUN...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. $$
535 FZAK62 PAFC 221144 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 344 AM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 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. PKZ499-230045- 344 AM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 970 MB LOW NEAR 56N 165E WILL TRACK TO 55N 177E AT 984 MB WED NIGHT THEN TO 55N 170W AT 989 MB THU NIGHT. THE ASSOCIATED WEATHER FRONT OVER THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL BERING SEA WILL MOVE TO THE EASTERN BERING SEA WED AFTERNOON. $$ PKZ411-230045- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE- 344 AM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 .TODAY...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. .TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 11 TO 15 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU...N WIND 10 TO 20 KT INCREASING TO 15 TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 11 TO 14 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN SHOWERS. .THU NIGHT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 13 FT. .FRI...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. .SAT THROUGH SUN...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. $$ PKZ412-230045- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N- 344 AM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 .TODAY...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. .TONIGHT...S WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU...SE WIND 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU NIGHT...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. .FRI THROUGH SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. .SUN...SE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. $$ PKZ413-230045- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N- 344 AM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...SW WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .TONIGHT...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 TO 13 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 TO 13 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU NIGHT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 13 FT. .FRI THROUGH SAT...NW WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. .SUN...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. $$ PKZ414-230045- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W- 344 AM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...S WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. .TONIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU NIGHT...SE WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. .FRI THROUGH SUN...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. $$
794 FZAK62 PAFC 222310 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 310 PM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. PKZ499-231330- 310 PM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 975 MB LOW NEAR 55N 170E WILL WEAKEN TO 986 MB AS IT MOVES TO 55N 176W THU AFTERNOON. THIS LOW WILL CONTINUE TO WEAKEN TO 993 MB NEAR 55N 166W FRI AFTERNOON. AN ASSOCIATED FRONT WILL WEAKEN OVER THE NORTHERN TO EASTERN BERING WED NIGHT AND THU. $$ PKZ411-231330- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE- 310 PM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 .TONIGHT...VARIBLE WIND TO 20 KT. SEAS 11 TO 14 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU...N WIND UP TO 20 KT INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 11 TO 14 FT. PATCHY FOG. .THU NIGHT...NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 13 FT. RAIN SHOWERS. .FRI...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT. .FRI NIGHT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. .SAT THROUGH SUN...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 9 FT. .MON...W WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 6 TO 9 FT. $$ PKZ412-231330- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N- 310 PM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 .TONIGHT...S WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU...VARIBLE WIND TO 15 KT. SEAS 6 TO 12 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT BECOMING N WIND TO 20 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT. PATCHY FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. .FRI...NW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT. .FRI NIGHT...NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. .SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT. .SUN...SE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT. .MON...E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT. $$ PKZ413-231330- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N- 310 PM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 .TONIGHT...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU...VARIBLE WIND TO 20 KT. SEAS 11 TO 14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .THU NIGHT...NW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .FRI...NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. .FRI NIGHT...NW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 TO 15 FT. .SAT...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. .SUN...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. .MON...W WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. $$ PKZ414-231330- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W- 310 PM AKDT WED APR 22 2015 .TONIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 10 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. .THU...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. .THU NIGHT...SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. .FRI...VARIABLE WIND TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT. .FRI NIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. .SAT THROUGH SUN...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. .MON...E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT. $$
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 Apr 20, 4:43 PM AKDT, 11 hours 1 minute earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 20, 4:43 PM AKDT, 11 hours 1 minute before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 443 PM AKDT MON APR 20 2015 .ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS... A LOOK AT SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A LARGE CLOSED CIRCULATION DOMINATING THE ALASKA REGION. A VERTICALLY STACKED LOW IS CENTERED JUST NORTH OF NUNIVAK ISLAND WITH A CONTINUOUS JET STREAM AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE CIRCULATION RESULTING IN A PINWHEEL OF SHORT- WAVES. ONE OF THE KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS AIRMASS IS THE VERY COLD AIR ALOFT...WHICH IS RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD CONVECTION WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREAS OF GREATEST VERTICAL MOTION. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THE UPPER SHORT-WAVES IS ONE MOVING ONSHORE OF SOUTHWEST ALASKA TODAY AND ANOTHER LIFTING NORTHWARD ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL...WITH LOCALLY HEAVY SHOWERS IN BOTH CASES. TEMPERATURES WERE STILL WARM ENOUGH FOR RAIN OVER MUCH OF SOUTHCENTRAL THIS MORNING BUT A COLD FRONT IS PROGRESSING NORTH AND EASTWARD GRADUALLY CHANGING PRECIP OVER TO SNOW. PRECIP OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA...THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIANS IS ALL IN THE FORM OF SNOW. A SEPARATE BRANCH OF THE UPPER LEVEL JET EXTENDS WELL SOUTH INTO THE NORTH PACIFIC WITH AN AMPLIFYING TROUGH AND DEVELOPING SURFACE LOW NOTED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY. A SHORT-WAVE DIGGING SOUTHWARD ALONG THE ALEUTIANS WILL BE TIMED JUST PERFECTLY TO INTERACT WITH THE SOUTHERN STREAM AND LIFT THE LOW NORTHWARD TOWARD ALASKA. && .MODEL DISCUSSION... THERE ARE STILL SOME MINOR TIMING DIFFERENCES WITH TROUGHS LIFTING NORTHWARD ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL TODAY AND TONIGHT. BASED ON LATEST RADAR TRENDS THE SLOWER SOLUTIONS ARE BEST. THE 18Z NAM SEEMS TO REALLY BE CATCHING ON TO THIS SLOWER PROGRESSION. WITH THE TRACK OF THE PACIFIC LOW SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA AND KODIAK ISLAND TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY ALL SOLUTIONS ARE NOW GROUPED INTO A TIGHT CORE...SO CONFIDENCE HAS GREATLY INCREASED. MORE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES CONTINUE WITH HANDLING OF LOW NEAR THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA THE MIDDLE OF THIS WEEK...BUT SOLUTIONS ARE FAIRLY CLOSE WITH THE TRACK OF THE FRONTAL SYSTEM ACROSS THE BERING AND ALEUTIANS. OVERALL FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS AVERAGE TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE. UNCERTAINTY LARGELY LIES WITH THE DIFFICULTY IN FORECASTING EXACT LOCATION OF CONVECTION WITH THE TYPICAL LARGE VARIATION IN QPF OVER SHORT DISTANCES. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (TONIGHT THROUGH WED AFTERNOON)... THE MUCH ANTICIPATED COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO BRING SNOWFALL TO ANCHORAGE AND THE MAT-SU VALLEY HAS PROGRESSED MUCH SLOWER UP THE INLET THAN ORIGINALLY EXPECTED. THIS HAS LED TO SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH NO ACCUMULATION. HOWEVER...THE FRONT IS NOW ON THE DOORSTEP OF ANCHORAGE WITH THE SNOWFALL INTENSITY BEGINNING TO INCREASE. SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IS NOT EXPECTED...WITH UP TO 2 INCHES EXPECTED IN TOWN AND 2 TO 4 INCHES POSSIBLE ALONG THE HILLSIDE AS PRECIPITATION UP SLOPES ALONG THE CHUGACH. THE MAT-SU VALLEY WILL HAVE A MUCH HARDER TIME ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL AS TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN IN THE UPPER 30S TO MID 40S AS THE COLD AIR ADVECTION HAS NOT MADE IT THAT FAR NORTH JUST YET. SNOWFALL WILL BEGIN TO TAPER OFF ACROSS THE KENAI PENINSULA AS THE FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD BUT WITH DECENT LAPSE RATES ASSOCIATED WITH THE WHOLE LAYER COOLING... SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS ARE NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. FOLLOWING THIS SHOWERY REGIME...AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE FROM THE NORTH PACIFIC WILL MOVE INTO THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA LATE TUESDAY. THIS WILL BRING HIGHER RAIN AND SNOW CHANCES TO KODIAK ISLAND AS WELL AS THE NORTHERN GULF COAST. THE LOW WILL SHIFT EASTWARD ACROSS THE SOUTHERN GULF OF ALASKA WHICH WILL BRING SOME GALE FORCE WINDS TO THE OFFSHORE ZONES AND KEEP ANY FRONT/BARRIER JET FROM IMPACTING THE NORTHERN GULF COAST. THERE WILL BE SOME WEAK OUTFLOW WINDS WITH THIS EVENT BUT WITH THE LOW BEING SO FAR SOUTH...THEY SHOULD BE RELATIVELY LIGHT. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (DAYS 1 THROUGH 3)... SNOW DEVELOPING AHEAD OF LOW PRESSURE JUST NORTH OF NUNIVAK ISLAND WILL BRING ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS MUCH OF THE SOUTHWEST. A BRIEF MIXING OF RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF BRISTOL BAY AND THE ALASKA PENINSULA AND THEN CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW AS COOLER AIR ADVECTS FROM THE BERING. A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT AHEAD OF THE SURFACE LOW WILL KEEP WINDS GUSTING THROUGH MIDNIGHT AND THEN BEGIN TO RELAX AS THE LOW LIFTS NORTH AND DIMINISHES. BLOWING SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO ONE MILE OR LESS AT TIMES THROUGH MIDNIGHT...HOWEVER THERE WILL BE FREQUENT BREAKS IN THE CURRENT SNOW PATTERN KEEPING VISIBILITY CRITERIA ABOVE WINTER ADVISORY CRITERIA. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS TAPER OFF TUESDAY AFTERNOON WITH SCATTERED ACTIVITY REMAINING THROUGH WEDNESDAY AS WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH THE FLOW. THE NEXT STRONGER SYSTEM WILL BE DEVELOPING SOUTH OF THE EASTERN ALASKA PENINSULA ON TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY WITH AN EASTWARD TRACK. LOW IMPACT EASTERLY FLOW WILL INCREASE ACROSS BRISTOL BAY ON WEDNESDAY WITH PRECIPITATION MAINLY ALONG THE ALASKA AND ALEUTIAN RANGES. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (DAYS 1 THROUGH 3)... A GUSTY WINDS AND SNOW ACROSS THE CENTRAL BERING WILL BRING REDUCED VISIBILITIES ACROSS THE PRIBILOFS THROUGH MIDNIGHT. WINDS BEGIN TO TAPER OFF AFTER MIDNIGHT AS THE LOW NORTH OF NUNIVAK ISLAND LIFTS AND DIMINISHES. CONTINUED SNOW SHOWERS AND GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE WESTERN BERING WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE AS A STRONGER FRONT PUSHES INTO THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS TUESDAY NIGHT. GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS AND MIXED PRECIPITATION ACCOMPANY THIS FRONT WITH STRONGER NORTHERLY FLOW AND COOLER TEMPERATURES BEHIND THIS SYSTEM. && .LONG TERM FORECAST (WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)... AFTER THE GALE FORCE LOW OVER THE GULF DISSIPATES AND DEPARTS THE AREA WEDNESDAY EVENING...A WEAKENING BERING SEA FRONT WILL ENTER THE SOUTHWEST MAINLAND...BRINGING RAIN AND SNOW TO THE AREA FOR THURSDAY. THIS FRONT WILL ENTER THE GULF AS IT CONTINUES TO WEAKEN ON FRIDAY AND BRING RAIN MAINLY TO THE GULF COAST...WHILE SOUTHCENTRAL WILL REMAIN CLOUDY BUT DRY. STARTING THIS WEEKEND THERE IS VERY GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT THAT THE UPPER LOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED BERING FRONT WILL DRAG THE JET WELL SOUTH OF THE STATE...ALLOWING FOR RIDGING TO BUILD IN FROM THE CENTRAL BERING INTO THE INTERIOR. THIS LOOKS TO BRING A MUCH LESS AMPLIFIED PATTERN TO MOST OF THE STATE THAT SHOULD PERSIST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THIS PATTERN WILL LIMIT PRECIPITATION IN THE AREA MOSTLY TO DIURNAL SHOWERS AS TEMPERATURES RETURN TO ABOVE NORMAL. && .AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PUBLIC...NONE. MARINE...GALE 131 132 136 150 175 176 177 178. FIRE WEATHER...NONE. && SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...SB SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...MC SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...KH LONG TERM...DEK
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 20, 10:15 PM AKDT, 5 hours 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1015 PM AKDT MON APR 20 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 PM SNOW 2 WNW FLAT TOP MOUNTAIN 61.10N 149.72W
04/20/2015 M3.0 INCH AK TRAINED SPOTTER
ACCUMULATED ON GRASS, NOT PAVEMENT.
&&
MOTTENWELocal storm report, Apr 20, 10:17 PM AKDT, 5 hours 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1017 PM AKDT MON APR 20 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1012 PM SNOW ANCHORAGE 61.22N 149.87W
04/20/2015 M2.2 INCH AK OFFICIAL NWS OBS
2.2 INCHES OF STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL MEASURED AT THE NWS
ANCHORAGE OFFICE. SNOW FELL BETWEEN 7AM AND 7PM.
&&
RDUELLLocal storm report, Apr 20, 10:27 PM AKDT, 5 hours 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1027 PM AKDT MON APR 20 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1026 PM SNOW 1 ENE POTTER MARSH 61.06N 149.76W
04/20/2015 M3.5 INCH AK PUBLIC
3.5 INCHES OF SNOW MEASURED IN PARADISE VALLEY.
&&
RDUELLLocal storm report, Apr 20, 10:32 PM AKDT, 5 hours 12 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1032 PM AKDT MON APR 20 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1028 PM SNOW 3 SSE ANCHORAGE 61.18N 149.85W
04/20/2015 M0.8 INCH AK CO-OP OBSERVER
0.8 INCHES OF SNOW REPORTED IN MIDTOWN ANCHORAGE CAMPBELL
CREEK AND THE NEW SEWARD HIGHWAY.
&&
RDUELLThe office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 3:40 AM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 35 hr | |
| Apr 21, 3:40 AM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Apr 21, 3:57 AM AKDT | Brisk Wind Advisory | AFC | 59 hr | |
| Apr 21, 3:57 AM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 35 hr | |
| Apr 21, 3:57 AM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 5 days | |
| Apr 21, 8:14 AM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 31 hr | |
| Apr 21, 8:14 AM AKDT | Storm Warning | AFC | 19 hr | |
| Apr 21, 8:19 AM AKDT | Storm Warning | AFC | 19 hr | |
| Apr 21, 2:49 PM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 13 hr | |
| Apr 21, 2:58 PM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 13 hr | |
| Apr 21, 2:58 PM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Apr 21, 2:58 PM AKDT | Storm Warning | AFC | 13 hr | |
| Apr 21, 3:40 PM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 36 hr |
Nearby
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.