Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2015

Gale Warning 321, NWS Anchorage, AK

April 21, 2015

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.

&&

MOTTENWE
Local 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.

&&

RDUELL
Local 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.

&&

RDUELL
Local 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.

&&

RDUELL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 21, 3:40 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC35 hr
Apr 21, 3:40 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Apr 21, 3:57 AM AKDTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFC59 hr
Apr 21, 3:57 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC35 hr
Apr 21, 3:57 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC5 days
Apr 21, 8:14 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC31 hr
Apr 21, 8:14 AM AKDTStorm WarningAFC19 hr
Apr 21, 8:19 AM AKDTStorm WarningAFC19 hr
Apr 21, 2:49 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC13 hr
Apr 21, 2:58 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC13 hr
Apr 21, 2:58 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC48 hr
Apr 21, 2:58 PM AKDTStorm WarningAFC13 hr
Apr 21, 3:40 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC36 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2015Every gale warning in 2015

Sources

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