Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2015
Gale Warning 853, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Dec 25, 2015, 3:38 AM AKST. 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
- Dec 25, 2015, 3:38 AM AKST (12:38 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 26, 2015, 3:26 AM AKST
- In force
- 24 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
090 FZAK62 PAFC 251238 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 338 AM AKST FRI DEC 25 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. PKZ499-260245- 338 AM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 967 MB LOW AT 53N 173W DISSIPATES LATE FRI MORNING. A 957 MB LOW NEAR 54N 163W MOVES TO 56N 165W FRI NIGHT AT 957 MB THEN SHIFTS TO 57N 156W AS A 983 MB LOW SUN MORNING THEN DISSIPATES. A 984 MB LOW FORMS AT 48N 174E SAT MORNING MOVES TO 51N 171W AS AN ELONGATED 973 MB LOW BY SUN MORNING. THE ASSOCIATED FRONT WRAPS BACK INTO THE NORTH PACIFIC. $$ PKZ411-260245- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE- 338 AM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT... .TODAY...NW WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 17 TO 26 FT. SNOW. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY N OF 58N. .TONIGHT...NW WIND 20 TO 35 KT BECOMING VARIABLE 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 13 TO 22 FT SUBSIDING TO 9 TO 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .SAT...E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. .SAT NIGHT...NE WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. .SUN...E WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. .MON THROUGH TUE...N WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 14 TO 26 FT. $$ PKZ412-260245- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N- 338 AM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT... .TODAY...NE TO NW WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 10 TO 17 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .TONIGHT...NE TO NW WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 17 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .SAT...NW WIND 10 TO 20 KT BECOMING NE IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. .SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 9 FT. .SUN THROUGH TUE...E WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. $$ PKZ413-260245- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N- 338 AM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 ...STORM WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...NW WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 16 TO 29 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .TONIGHT...NW WIND 30 TO 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 14 TO 26 FT. RAIN. .SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT BECOMING NE UP TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 12 TO 19 FT DIMINISHING TO 10 FT. .SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT. .SUN...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. .MON...S WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. .TUE...W WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 13 TO 20 FT. $$ PKZ414-260245- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W- 338 AM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 ...STORM WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...E WIND 30 TO 50 KT. W OF 168W...NW WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 20 FT. RAIN. .TONIGHT...E WIND 25 TO 40 KT. W OF 168W...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 TO 19 FT. RAIN. .SAT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. .SAT NIGHT...E WIND UP TO 15 KT. SEAS 5 TO 9 FT. .SUN...NE WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. .MON THROUGH TUE...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. $$
2 follow-up statements
539 FZAK62 PAFC 260013 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 313 PM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. PKZ499-261445- 313 PM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 954 MB LOW NEAR 56N 165W WEAKENS TO 974 MB SAT AFTERNOON NEAR 56N 162W AND THEN DISSIPATES OVER THE ALASKA PENINSULA SAT NIGHT. A 983 MB LOW FORMS EARLY SAT MORNING NEAR 48N 174E AND INTENSIFIES TO 968 MB SAT NIGHT NEAR 51N 176W. THIS LOW THEN WEAKENS TO 975 MB SUN AFTERNOON NEAR 51N 167W. $$ PKZ411-261445- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE- 313 PM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...NW WIND 20 TO 35 KT BECOMING N 10 TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. .SAT...NE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. .SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. .SUN...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. .SUN NIGHT...E WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. .MON THROUGH WED...NW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT. $$ PKZ412-261445- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N- 313 PM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...N WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 16 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .SAT...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 TO 14 FT. .SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. .SUN...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT. .SUN NIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT. .MON...E WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. .TUE...E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. .WED...W WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT. $$ PKZ413-261445- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N- 313 PM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...NW WIND 30 TO 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 15 TO 26 FT. RAIN SHOWERS. .SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT BECOMING N UP TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 TO 17 FT. .SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. RAIN. .SUN...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 10 FT. .SUN NIGHT...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. .MON...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. .TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. $$ PKZ414-261445- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W- 313 PM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY... .TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 13 TO 19 FT. RAIN SHOWERS. .SAT...N WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT. RAIN. .SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. .SUN...NE WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. .SUN NIGHT...W WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. .MON THROUGH WED...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. $$
920 FZAK62 PAFC 261226 OFFALU OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK 326 AM AKST SAT DEC 26 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. PKZ499-270245- 326 AM AKST SAT DEC 26 2015 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 963 MB LOW AT 57N 165W MOVES TO 58N 161W AS A 977MB LOW SAT NIGHT AND DISSIPATES SUN MORNING IN BRISTOL BAY. A 981 MB LOW NEAR 47N 175E MOVES TO 52N 179W SAT NIGHT AS A 968 MB LOW THEN SHIFTS TO 51N 165W AS A 974 MB LOW MON MORNING. A 974 MB LOW AT 50N 168E SUN MORNING COMBINES WITH A SECOND LOW AND MOVES TO 51N 178W AS A 961 MB LOW BY MON MORNING. $$ PKZ411-270245- BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL DATELINE- 326 AM AKST SAT DEC 26 2015 .TODAY...NE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 56N. .TONIGHT...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. .SUN...NE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 13 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. FREEZING SPRAY N OF 57N. .SUN NIGHT...NE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 10 TO 17 FT. .MON THROUGH WED...NW WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 TO 17 FT. $$ PKZ412-270245- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N- 326 AM AKST SAT DEC 26 2015 .TODAY...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. .TONIGHT...NE WIND 10 TO 15 KT INCREASING TO 15 TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 7 TO 9 FT. .SUN...NE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. .SUN NIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. .MON...E WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. .TUE...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 12 FT. .WED...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT. $$ PKZ413-270245- BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N- 326 AM AKST SAT DEC 26 2015 .TODAY...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT BECOMING VARIABLE UP TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 TO 17 FT. .TONIGHT...E WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .SUN...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. .SUN NIGHT...SW WIND UP TO 15 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT. .MON...NE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. .TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. $$ PKZ414-270245- BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W- 326 AM AKST SAT DEC 26 2015 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...NE WIND 25 TO 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. S OF 56N...NW WIND 25 TO 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 11 TO 20 FT SUBSIDING TO 9 TO 13 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. .TONIGHT...NE TO NW WIND 10 TO 20 KT BECOMING VARIABLE 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. .SUN...SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. RAIN. .SUN NIGHT...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. .MON THROUGH TUE...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. .WED...SW WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 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 Dec 24, 5:14 PM AKST, 10 hours 24 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 24, 5:14 PM AKST, 10 hours 24 minutes before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
514 PM AKST THU DEC 24 2015
.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
UPPER LEVELS...A HIGHLY AMPLIFIED PATTERN HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS
SOUTHERN ALASKA THIS AFTERNOON. A STRONG VERTICALLY STACKED LOW
OVER THE WEST CENTRAL BERING IS EVIDENT ON SATELLITE IMAGERY. THE
ASSOCIATED UPPER LEVEL LOW CURRENTLY EXTENDS SOUTHEAST AS AN UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH THAT IS BECOMING MORE NEGATIVELY TILTED. THE FRONT
IS ALSO CLEARLY EVIDENT ON SATELLITE IMAGERY AS THE TRANSITION
ZONE BETWEEN THE HIGH CLOUDS RAPIDLY MOVING NORTH AHEAD OF THE
FRONT TO RELATIVELY CLEAR SKIES WITH MORE CONVECTIVE CUMULUS
BEHIND IT. THIS FRONT EXTENDS SOUTH WELL INTO THE NORTH PACIFIC.
THE STRONG DIVERGENCE AHEAD OF THE FRONT IS CAUSING RAPID
CYCLOGENESIS JUST SOUTH OF THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS. THE MERGING OF
THE TWO LOWS TONIGHT HAS BEEN THE FORECAST CHALLENGE.
THE DIGGING TROUGH AND FRONT OVER THE BERING AND NORTH PACIFIC AND
THEIR ASSOCIATED LOWS HAVE BROUGHT A SLUG OF WARM AIR NORTH ON THE
STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS...HELPING BUILD THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE
NORTHWARD. ANCHORAGES 12Z SOUNDING HAD PEAK WINDS OF 140 KT AT 300
MB THIS MORNING...AS THE RIDGE PUSHED A DEVELOPING JET STREAK ON
THE EAST SIDE OF THE RIDGE NORTH ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA. THE
WARM AIR ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIDGE HAS WARMED THE UPPER
LEVELS AT NEAR EXORBITANT RATES...AS BETWEEN ANCHORAGES 00Z AND
12Z SOUNDINGS...500 MB TEMPERATURES HAVE WARMED BY A FULL 8C.
SURFACE ANALYSIS...FOR SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...COLD POLAR AIR
REMAINS IN PLACE ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA AS THE WARM AIR ALREADY
OVER THE ENTIRETY OF SOUTHCENTRAL HAS YET TO REACH THE SURFACE.
EVEN THE USUAL WARMER SPOTS LIKE KODIAK AND HOMER ARE BOTH BELOW
FREEZING. POLAR HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE INTERIOR IS THE
CULPRIT...KEEPING FRESH COLD AIR MOVING THROUGH ALL OF
SOUTHCENTRAL ON LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS. THE LOW LEVELS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE REMAIN NEARLY SATURATED AROUND ANCHORAGE. DESPITE THE
VERY DRY LAYER OF AIR ABOVE THE INVERSION...THE MOISTURE HAS BEEN
CAUSING FLURRIES AROUND THE ANCHORAGE BOWL. DUE TO THE NEARLY SATURATED
AIR NEAR THE SURFACE BEING ONLY ABOUT 1500 FEET THICK...NOTHING
HEAVIER THAN THAT IS POSSIBLE.
OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA...THE WARM AIR HAS BEEN STEADILY ADVANCING
NORTH INTO THE BRISTOL BAY AREA...SUCCESSFULLY SCOURING OUT THE
COLD AIR THAT WAS THERE AS RECENTLY AS A FEW HOURS AGO. THE STRONG
WIND AND SNOW PRODUCED BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ALONG THE THE COAST OF
THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA THROUGHOUT THIS MORNING INTO THIS AFTERNOON. STEADY
SNOW WAS FALLING IN BETHEL AND ANIAK AS THE WARM FRONT ASSOCIATED
WITH THE BERING STORM MOVED NORTH. FRICTION AND A WEAKENING PRESSURE
GRADIENT AS ONE GOES NORTH AND EAST ARE KEEPING THE STRONGER WINDS
TOWARDS COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND OUT OVER THE BERING.
OVER THE BERING...THE STORM THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTING THE BERING FOR
THE PAST FEW DAYS NOW CONTINUES TO DRIFT OVER THE WESTERN BERING.
WEST OF THE LOW...SHEMYA HAS BEEN REPORTING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH
WITH VISIBILITIES OCCASIONALLY DROPPING BELOW A MILE IN SNOW. EAST
OF THE STORM...GUSTS HAVE REACHED 40 TO 45 MPH. ALSO TEMPERATURES
HAVE WARMED INTO THE 30S AND 40S AS WARMER PACIFIC AIR IS DRAWN
NORTHWARD.
&&
.MODEL DISCUSSION...
A WIDE SPREAD IN THE MODEL SOLUTIONS REMAINS CONCERNING THE
EVENTUAL TRACK OF THE SECONDARY LOW HEADING FOR THE EASTERN
ALEUTIANS/SOUTHERN ALASKA PENINSULA. A NUMBER OF THE MODELS BRING
THE CENTER OF THE LOW NORTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA INTO THE
EASTERN BERING TOMORROW MORNING. WE WILL CONTINUE TO GO WITH THE
CENTER OF THE LOW REMAINING ALONG OR SOUTH OF THE ALASKA
PENINSULA...REMAINING CLOSER TO THE UPPER LEVEL FORCING AND
BAROCLINICITY ALONG WHICH THE LOW FORMED. THIS SOLUTION IS CLOSER
TO THE ENSEMBLE MEAN OF THE MODELS. THE MODEL SPREAD IS
CONSIDERABLY LESS OVER THE GULF...AS THE FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE
LOW TRACKS ACROSS THE GULF AND ONTO THE COAST...REGARDLESS OF THE
TRACK OF THE LOW CENTER. CONFIDENCE REMAINS SOMEWHAT BELOW NORMAL
REGARDING THE EVENTUAL TRACK OF THE LOW NEAR THE ALASKA
PENINSULA...BUT HIGHER OVER SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA.
&&
.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2)...
A MUCH MORE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN WILL RETURN TO SOUTHCENTRAL
AK ON CHRISTMAS DAY AS A STRONG WARM FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW
IN THE BERING SEA MOVES INTO THE GULF ACCOMPANIED BY STORM FORCE WINDS
AND HEAVY PRECIPITATION. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FROM THIS
SYSTEM WILL BE FELT OVER PORTIONS OF WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
BEGINNING LATE FRIDAY MORNING AND LASTING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT AS
THE FRONT ARRIVES ALONG THE GULF COAST...BRINGING HEAVY SNOW TO
THE EASTERN KENAI PENINSULA. SNOW WILL BEGIN TO MIX WITH RAIN
DURING THE AFTERNOON ALONG THE COAST AS TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY
RISE ABOVE FREEZING...BUT INLAND LOCATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO SEE
ALL SNOW THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...WITH ACCUMULATIONS ON THE ORDER
OF 14-30 INCHES LIKELY BY EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION TO
THE VISIBILITY REDUCTIONS THAT WILL LIKELY RESULT FROM HEAVY
FALLING SNOW...STRONG GAP WINDS WILL ALSO PRODUCE AREAS OF BLOWING
SNOW ACROSS THE PORTAGE VALLEY AND EASTERN TURNAGAIN ARM...FURTHER
REDUCING VISIBILITIES IN THESE AREAS. GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL
IMPACTS THAT WILL ACCOMPANY THESE CONDITIONS...THE WINTER STORM
WATCH HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A WINTER STORM WARNING WITH ISSUANCE OF
THE AFTERNOON FORECAST PACKAGE. MEANWHILE...THE IMPACTS OF THIS
SYSTEM WILL BE MUCH MORE MINIMAL ACROSS INTERIOR PORTIONS OF
SOUTHCENTRAL AK...WITH STRONG DOWNSLOPE FLOW KEEPING THE
ANCHORAGE BOWL AND THE MAT-SU REGION MOSTLY DRY THROUGH FRIDAY
NIGHT.
&&
.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2)...
A POTENT WARM FRONT CONTINUES TO PUSH ACROSS SOUTHWEST ALASKA THIS
AFTERNOON AS EVIDENT ON SURFACE OBSERVATIONS ACROSS THE BRISTOL
BAY AREA AND THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ACROSS THE
KUSKOKWIM DELTA HAVE TAPERED OFF AS TEMPERATURES HAVE BEGUN TO
WARM NEAR FREEZING AND PRECIPITATION INTENSITY BEGINS TO DECREASE.
THE SFC PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL REMAIN STRONG ACROSS SOUTHWEST
ALASKA AS HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO BUILD ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF
OF ALASKA THROUGH FRIDAY. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR AREAS OF BLOWING
SNOW TO CONTINUE ALONG THE COAST OF THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA UNTIL
PRECIPITATION TAPERS OFF THIS EVENING. ANOTHER SHOT OF SNOW (MIXED
WITH RAIN SOUTH OF BETHEL) WILL BE SEEN ACROSS THE DELTA CHRISTMAS
DAY AND WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY WIND OF 30 TO 45 MPH WITH SOME
STRONGER GUSTS. HOWEVER...WITH TEMPERATURES HOVERING NEAR
FREEZING...NEITHER BLOWING SNOW OR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
AT THIS TIME.
ATTENTION WILL TURN TO THE ALASKA PENINSULA AND BRISTOL BAY AREA
ON CHRISTMAS DAY AS A DEVELOPING LOW IN THE NORTH PACIFIC WILL ACT
TO TIGHTEN THE AFOREMENTIONED PRESSURE GRADIENT EVEN MORE. THE
GRADIENT WILL ALIGN ACROSS THE ALASKA PENINSULA IN A FAVORABLE
SOUTHEAST DIRECTION EARLY FRIDAY MORNING THAT WILL ALLOW WINDS TO
BLOWN STRONGLY THROUGH THE CHANNELED TERRAIN. THE TRACK OF THE LOW
BRINGS THE LOW NEAR COLD BAY...WHICH WOULD KEEP THE STRONGEST
WINDS EAST OF COLD BAY AND CLOSER TO THE SHUMAGIN ISLANDS AND
FURTHER EAST. BY LATE FRIDAY MORNING...THE FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS LOW WILL MOVE ACROSS THE BRISTOL BAY AREA AND PROVIDE THE
FAVORABLE EASTERLY DIRECTION TO LET WINDS BLOW THROUGH THE GAPS OF
THE ALEUTIAN RANGE. WIND GUSTS OF 70 TO 80 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE
THROUGH CHANNELED TERRAIN EAST OF COLD BAY....THE GAPS OF THE
ALASKA RANGE AND THE WESTERN CAPES OF THE BRISTOL BAY ZONE.
CONDITIONS BEGIN TO IMPROVE HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND AS THE LOW
NEAR COLD BAY SHIFTS SOUTH AND EAST AND THE PRESSURE GRADIENT
RELAXES. TEMPERATURES WILL BEGIN TO COOL DOWN ON SATURDAY BUT
REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL.
&&
.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (DAYS 1 AND 2)...
THE UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN ACROSS THE BERING SEA WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH CHRISTMAS. THE STORM FORCE LOW OVER THE WESTERN BERING SEA
WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY WEAKEN THROUGH THE NIGHT BEFORE MERGING
WITH THE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING LOW IN THE NORTH PACIFIC. THIS INFLUX
OF ENERGY WILL CREATE A SWATH OF STORM FORCE WINDS NEAR THE CENTRAL
ALEUTIANS ON FRIDAY AND THE FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPING
LOW WILL BRING STORM FORCE WINDS TO THE COASTAL WATERS OF THE WEST
COAST. A LARGE SLUG OF WARM AIR WILL BE ADVECTED NORTHWARD LEAVING
MUCH OF THE BERING SEA TO SEE PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY
RAINFALL. THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS WILL REMAIN ON THE COLD SIDE OF
THE LOW WITH GOOD COLD AIR ADVECTION COMING FROM RUSSIA WHICH WILL
KEEP THE PRECIPITATION TYPE AS SNOW. AS THE LOW BEGINS TO DROP
SOUTH LATE FRIDAY...CONDITIONS WILL RAPIDLY IMPROVE ACROSS THE
BERING SEA AS WINDS TAPER OFF AND PRECIPITATION TRANSITIONS TO A
MORE SHOWERY REGIME.
&&
.LONG TERM FORECAST (DAYS 3 THROUGH 7)...
AN ACTIVE PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO NEXT WEEK WITH
MULTIPLE LOWS COMING UP FROM THE SOUTH BRINGING WARMER CONDITIONS
TO THE STATE. TEMPERATURES OVER THE SOUTHERN MAINLAND AND
SOUTHWEST ALASKA LOOK TO BE AT OR ABOVE NORMALS FOR MUCH OF NEXT
WEEK. WITH THE MULTIPLE LOWS MOVING INTO THE AREA THERE IS
DISAGREEMENT AMONGST THE MODELS ON HOW THEY TRACK THROUGH THE AREA
AND HOW MUCH SNOW/RAIN THEY WILL BRING. BECAUSE OF THIS THE
ENSEMBLE MEANS WERE USED. THEY ARE MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER THAN THE
OPERATIONAL RUNS WITH THE LOW CENTERS SO EVEN THOUGH CONFIDENCE IS
LOW FOR SOME TIMING ISSUES WITH THE LOWS...THERE IS HIGHER
CONFIDENCE IN THE CONTINUING ACTIVE PATTERN.
&&
.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...HIGH WIND WARNING...161 181
WINTER STORM WARNING...125
MARINE...GALE...120 125 136 137 139 141 171 179 181 185 412
STORM...119 130-132 138 150 155 160 165
170 172-178 180 351 352 411 413 414
HVY FRZG SPRAY 181 185.
&&
SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...JW
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...CB
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...MC
LONG TERM...DKIn the hours before
Local storm report, Dec 25, 2:58 AM AKST, 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
258 AM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0216 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ADAK STATION 51.84N 176.64W
12/25/2015 M107 MPH AK AWOS
&&
JAHSENMALocal storm report, Dec 25, 3:07 AM AKST, 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
307 AM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0206 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PORT HEIDEN 56.96N 158.59W
12/25/2015 M72.00 MPH AK AWOS
0216 AM NON-TSTM WND GST ADAK STATION 51.84N 176.64W
12/25/2015 M107 MPH AK AWOS
0258 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PLATINUM 59.01N 161.81W
12/25/2015 M71.00 MPH AK AWOS
&&
KUTZLocal storm report, Dec 25, 3:13 AM AKST, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
313 AM AKST FRI DEC 25 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0228 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PORT HEIDEN 56.96N 158.59W
12/25/2015 M74 MPH AK AWOS
0240 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PLATINUM 59.01N 161.81W
12/25/2015 M74 MPH AK AWOS
&&
KUTZThe office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 24, 3:05 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Dec 24, 3:05 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 6 days | |
| Dec 24, 3:05 PM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 37 hr | |
| Dec 24, 3:34 PM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Dec 24, 4:22 PM AKST | Winter Storm Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Dec 25, 3:36 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Dec 25, 3:36 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Dec 25, 3:36 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Dec 25, 3:36 AM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Dec 25, 3:46 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 4 days | |
| Dec 25, 3:46 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 11 hr | |
| Dec 25, 4:57 AM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFC | 11 hr | |
| Dec 25, 5:34 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 10 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.