Alert archive / Alaska / Storm Warnings in 2015

Storm Warning 165, NWS Anchorage, AK

December 11, 2015

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this storm warning at Dec 11, 2015, 2:57 PM 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 11, 2015, 2:57 PM AKST (23:57 UTC)
Expired
Dec 12, 2015, 2:55 PM AKST
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

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

723 
FZAK62 PAFC 112357
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
257 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 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.

PKZ499-121445-
257 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A FRONT OVER THE EASTERN BERING DISSIPATES SAT MORNING. ANOTHER
FRONT OVER THE CENTRAL BERING REMAINS STATIONARY THROUGH SAT
MORNING...THEN GETS ABSORBED. A 959 MB LOW NEAR 48N 173E LATE FRI
NIGHT MOVES TO 56N 177W AT 928 MB LATE SAT NIGHT...THEN TO 58N
174W AT 936 MB SUN AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-121445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE-
257 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015

...STORM WARNING SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SAT...N TO E WIND 25 TO 40 KT INCREASING TO 35 TO 50 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 45 TO 60 KT. SEAS 17 TO 32 FT BUILDING TO 23
TO 33 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SUN...NW WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 24 TO 32 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...NW WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 21 TO 29 FT.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 13 TO 21 FT.
.WED...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.

$$

PKZ412-121445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N-
257 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.SAT...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT BECOMING E 45 TO 60 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 11 TO 19 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 50 TO 70 KT. SEAS 17 TO 32 FT BUILDING TO 23
TO 32 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SUN...E WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 21 TO 35 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 20 TO 35 FT.
.MON...W WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 15 TO 30 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.

$$

PKZ413-121445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N-
257 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.SAT...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT INCREASING TO 45 TO 60 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT BUILDING TO 15 TO 23 FT IN THE
AFTERNOON. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 50 TO 65 KT. GUSTS TO 85 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT E
OF 176E. SEAS 19 TO 27 FT BUILDING TO 25 TO 40 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
RAIN.
.SUN...W WIND 50 TO 65 KT. SEAS 27 TO 42 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 50 TO 60 KT. SEAS 27 TO 42 FT.
.MON...W WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 15 TO 30 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT.

$$

PKZ414-121445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W-
257 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015

...STORM WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.SAT...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT BECOMING E 25 TO 40 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT BUILDING TO 13
TO 28 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW BECOMING RAIN. FREEZING SPRAY IN
THE EVENING.
.SUN...S WIND 45 TO 60 KT. SEAS 21 TO 36 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 30 TO 43 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 18 TO 33 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.

$$
3 follow-up statements
916 
FZAK62 PAFC 120729 AAA
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1029 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 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.

PKZ499-122015-
1029 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A FRONT OVER THE EASTERN BERING DISSIPATES SAT MORNING. ANOTHER
FRONT OVER THE CENTRAL BERING REMAINS STATIONARY THROUGH SAT
MORNING...THEN GETS ABSORBED. A 959 MB LOW NEAR 48N 173E LATE FRI
NIGHT MOVES TO 56N 177W AT 928 MB LATE SAT NIGHT...THEN TO 58N
174W AT 936 MB SUN AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-122015-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE-
1029 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015

...STORM WARNING SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  
.SAT...N TO E WIND 25 TO 40 KT INCREASING TO 35 TO 50 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 45 TO 60 KT. SEAS 18 TO 33 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SUN...NW WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 24 TO 32 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 21 TO 29 FT. 
.MON THROUGH TUE...W WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 13 TO 21 FT. 
.WED...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.

$$

PKZ412-122015-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N-
1029 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT BECOMING E 45 TO 60 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 11 TO 19 FT.  
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 50 TO 70 KT. SEAS 19 TO 32 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SUN...E WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 21 TO 35 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 20 TO 35 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 15 TO 30 FT. 
.TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.

$$

PKZ413-122015-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N-
1029 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT INCREASING TO 45 TO 60 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT BUILDING TO 15 TO 23 FT IN THE
AFTERNOON. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 50 TO 65 KT. GUSTS TO 85 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT E
OF 176E. SEAS 19 TO 27 FT BUILDING TO 25 TO 40 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
RAIN. 
.SUN...W WIND 50 TO 65 KT. SEAS 27 TO 42 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 50 TO 60 KT. SEAS 27 TO 42 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 15 TO 30 FT. 
.TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT.

$$

PKZ414-122015-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W-
1029 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015

...STORM WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT BECOMING E 25 TO 40 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT BUILDING TO
13 TO 28 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW BECOMING RAIN. FREEZING SPRAY IN
THE EVENING. 
.SUN...S WIND 45 TO 60 KT. SEAS 21 TO 36 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 30 TO 43 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 18 TO 33 FT. 
.TUE THROUGH WED...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.

$$
196 
FZAK62 PAFC 121250
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
350 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 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.

PKZ499-130230-
350 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2015
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 956 MB LOW NEAR 48N 172E WILL TRACK TO 55N 177W AT 929 MB
TONIGHT...THEN TO 60N 172W AT 949 MB SUN NIGHT. 

$$

PKZ411-130230-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE-
350 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2015

...STORM WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TODAY...VARIABLE WIND 20 KT BECOMING N TO E 40 TO 55 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT BUILDING TO 13 TO 21 FT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SNOW AND RAIN.
.TONIGHT...N WIND 45 TO 60 KT. SEAS 22 TO 35 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SUN...NW WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 23 TO 35 FT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.SUN NIGHT...NW WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 20 TO 27 FT.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 13 TO 21 FT.
.WED...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.

$$

PKZ412-130230-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N-
350 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2015

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT BECOMING E 50 TO 65 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 15 FT BUILDING TO 17 TO 30 FT. SNOW. FREEZING
SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...E WIND 50 TO 65 KT. SEAS 17 TO 33 FT. SNOW. FREEZING
SPRAY.
.SUN...E WIND 40 TO 55 KT BECOMING NW IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 22 TO
35 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 17 TO 31 FT.
.MON...W WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 14 TO 26 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.

$$

PKZ413-130230-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N-
350 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2015

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT INCREASING TO 50 TO 65 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 9 TO 14 FT BUILDING TO 14 TO 27 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 50 TO 65 KT. SEAS 25 TO 40 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...W WIND 45 TO 60 KT. SEAS 26 TO 41 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 45 TO 60 KT. SEAS 26 TO 41 FT.
.MON...W WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 14 TO 29 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT.

$$

PKZ414-130230-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W-
350 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2015

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...

.TODAY...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT BECOMING E 30 TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 6 TO 12 FT BUILDING TO 12 TO 20 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 17 TO 35 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN...S WIND 45 TO 60 KT. SEAS 23 TO 38 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 45 TO 55 KT. SEAS 29 TO 42 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 17 TO 32 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.

$$
842 
FZAK62 PAFC 122355
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
255 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 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.

PKZ499-131445-
255 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2015
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 933 MB LOW NEAR 52N 178E WILL TRACK TO 58N 174W AT 938 MB
SUN AFTERNOON...THEN TO 62N 173W AT 960 MB MON AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-131445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE-
255 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2015

...STORM WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...E TO N WIND 45 TO 60 KT. SEAS 20 TO 33 FT. RAIN AND
SNOW.
.SUN...NW WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 22 TO 30 FT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.SUN NIGHT...NW WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 18 TO 27 FT. SNOW SHOWERS.
.MON...W WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 TO 20 FT.
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 11 TO 14 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...SW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.
.THU...S WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 14 TO 22 FT.

$$

PKZ412-131445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N-
255 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2015

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 50 TO 70 KT. SEAS 23 TO 34 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN...E OF 176E...SE TO SW WIND 40 TO 55 KT. W OF 176W...NE TO NW
WIND 30 TO 50 KT. SEAS 21 TO 31 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 40 TO 55 KT. SEAS 16 TO 31 FT. RAIN AND SNOW
SHOWERS.
.MON...W WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 16 TO 28 FT.
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 13 TO 20 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.
.THU...S WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 TO 19 FT.

$$

PKZ413-131445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N-
255 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2015

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE TO SW WIND 50 TO 70 KT. SEAS 19 TO 27 FT BUILDING
TO 24 TO 37 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. RAIN.
.SUN...W WIND 50 TO 70 KT. SEAS 25 TO 40 FT. RAIN AND SNOW
SHOWERS.
.SUN NIGHT...W WIND 45 TO 60 KT DIMINISHING TO 35 TO 50 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 26 TO 41 FT. SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS.
.MON...W WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 16 TO 31 FT.
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 12 TO 19 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.
.THU...S WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 13 TO 21 FT.

$$

PKZ414-131445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W-
255 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2015

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 TO 60 KT. SEAS 6 TO 12 FT BUILDING TO 13 TO
23 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW AND RAIN. FREEZING SPRAY IN THE
EVENING N OF 57N.
.SUN...S WIND 45 TO 65 KT. SEAS 22 TO 37 FT. RAIN AND SNOW
SHOWERS.
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 45 TO 60 KT BECOMING 50 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 27 TO 42 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
.MON...SW WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 23 TO 35 FT.
.MON NIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 16 TO 24 FT.
.TUE...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.
.WED...NW WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.
.THU...SW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this storm 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 storm warning went out at Dec 11, 5:44 AM AKST, 9 hours 13 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 11, 5:44 AM AKST, 9 hours 13 minutes before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
544 AM AKST FRI DEC 11 2015

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

THE PATTERN IS STARTING TO SHOW SOME
SIGNS OF MORE ACTIVE WEATHER. WORKING FROM WEST TO EAST...YET
ANOTHER WEAK LOW IS CLIPPING THROUGH THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS. OVER
THE EASTERN BERING...A CLOSED LOW IS NOW CLEARLY SEEN ON SATELLITE
AND WITH SCATTEROMETER WINDS. THIS LOW IS WRAPPING COLD AIR BACK
INTO BRISTOL BAY AND CREATING PLENTY OF SHOWERS ON THE BERING SIDE
OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA. MEANWHILE MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
VERTICALLY STACKED LOW IN THE GULF HAS MADE ITS WAY OVER THE
ALASKA RANGE AND IS ALSO PARKED OVER BRISTOL BAY. WHEN ADDING
THE COLD AIR AND THE MOISTURE TOGETHER...THE RESULT IS A FAIRLY
IMPRESSIVE DEFORMATION ZONE WITH MODERATE SNOWFALL. KING SALMON
REPORTED 6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW AND IT IS STILL FALLING. THIS BAND
WILL SHIFT SLOWLY TO THE EAST AND WEAKEN THROUGH THIS MORNING.
MEANWHILE...THE AFOREMENTIONED LOW IN THE GULF CONTINUES ITS SLOW
JOURNEY NORTH. WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME RADAR RETURNS
APPROACHING THE COAST AND THE EXTREME SOUTHWEST TIP OF THE KENAI
PENINSULA. WITH THE JET CONTINUING TO BE WELL SOUTH OF THE
MAINLAND...THIS LOW WILL HAVE LIMITED UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

THE MODELS ARE IN VERY GOOD SYNOPTIC AGREEMENT
IN THE SHORT TERM. THERE ARE STILL A FEW DISCREPANCIES THAT WILL
IMPACT THE FORECAST. FIRST...HOW WELL DOES THE DEFORMATION BAND IN
BRISTOL BAY HOLD TOGETHER AND HOW FAR EAST DOES IT SLIDE.
SECOND...HOW MUCH DOWNSLOPING WILL THERE BE WITH THE LOW AS IT
SLIDES UP COOK INLET TONIGHT INTO SAT MORNING. THE HIGHER
RESOLUTION MODELS WERE USED TO HANDLE BOTH OF THESE FINER SCALE
ITEMS. IT DOES APPEAR THAT EVEN THE MORE BULLISH NAM IS NOW
STARTING TO BACK OFF A BIT ON PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS OVER COOK
INLET. AS COLD AIR SLIDES IN FROM THE WEST AND HELPS TO STRENGTHEN THE
LOW...THIS RESULTS IN SLIGHTLY STRONGER SOUTHEAST FLOW. THIS WOULD
RESULT IN MORE DOWNSLOPING...AT LEAST INITIALLY. THE BEST CHANCE
FOR SNOW NOW APPEARS TO BE SAT AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW ACTUALLY
MOVES OVERHEAD TO CUT OFF THE DOWNSLOPING AND WE SEE SOME COLD AIR
ADVECTION OFF THE COOK INLET. MEANWHILE...THE ECMWF SEEMS TO HAVE
"LOCKED ON" TO A SOLUTION WITH THE STRONG BERING LOW OVER THE
WEEKEND. THE OTHER MODELS HAVE TRENDED TOWARDS ITS TRACK
OVERNIGHT. IT IS CURRENTLY THE STRONGEST SOLUTION BY SEVERAL
MILLIBARS...SO WE USED MORE OF AN AVERAGE WHEN IT CAME TO CENTRAL
PRESSURE.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2)...

A LOW PRESSURE CENTER OVER THE NORTHWESTERN GULF WILL MOVE ACROSS
THE KENAI PENINSULA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING BEFORE SLOWLY
DISSIPATING OVER COOK INLET ON SAT. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOW TO
COASTAL AREAS THIS MORNING...WITH SOME MIXING WITH RAIN POSSIBLE
NEAR HOMER AND CORDOVA IN THE AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE
BACK TO SNOW OVER THOSE AREAS TONIGHT AND SAT BEFORE DRYING
RETURNS SAT NIGHT. FOR INLAND AREAS...SOUTHEAST FLOW ACROSS THE
CHUGACH WILL KEEP ANCHORAGE AND THE MATANUSKA VALLEY DOWNSLOPED
UNTIL TONIGHT. LIGHT SNOWFALL WILL THEN SPREAD ACROSS THOSE AREAS
THROUGH SAT BEFORE TAPERING OFF TO SHOWERS. SNOW SHOWERS WILL ALSO
AFFECT THE SUSITNA VALLEY AND THE EXTREME SOUTHERN COPPER RIVER
BASIN TONIGHT THROUGH SAT NIGHT.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2)...

NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE
SOUTHWEST MAINLAND WITH TWO UPPER LEVEL CENTERS MOVING ALONG A
BROAD TROUGH. BRIEF RIDGING TRANSITS THE AREA SATURDAY NIGHT WITH
A STRONG WEATHER FRONT MOVING INTO THE SOUTHWEST COAST EARLY
SUNDAY MORNING. STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND PRECIPITATION WILL
ACCOMPANY THE FRONT WITH A REINFORCING SURGE MOVING THROUGH
SUNDAY NIGHT.

THE ALASKA PENINSULA STAYS IN NORTH TO WESTERLY FLOW WITH SNOW
SHOWERS THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THE STRONG WEATHER FRONT MOVES
ACROSS SATURDAY NIGHT BRINGING A WIND SHIFT TO THE SOUTH AND
PRECIPITATION ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY. SNOW DEVELOPS ALONG THE
FRONT AND CHANGES QUICKLY TO RAIN AS THE BOUNDARY LIFTS NORTH.
STRONG SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS PERSIST INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE
WEEK AS THE SURFACE LOW TRACKS INTO THE NORTHERN BERING.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (DAYS 1 AND 2)...

A WEAK SURFACE LOW AND FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE WESTERN BERING/ALEUTIANS
THIS MORNING AND INTO THE CENTRAL BERING THIS AFTERNOON. NO
WEATHER IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS SYSTEM...HOWEVER THE NEXT
SYSTEM WILL BE QUICKLY DEVELOPING IN THE NORTH PACIFIC ON
SATURDAY. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY INCREASE LATE TONIGHT
ACROSS THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL ALEUTIANS AS THE LOW CENTER
APPROACHES. WINDS ACROSS THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS AND BERING INCREASE
ON SATURDAY. A HIGH WIND WATCH WAS ISSUED WITH THE MORNING PACKAGE
FOR THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL ALEUTIANS AS CONFIDENCE INCREASES TO
SEE HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS DEVELOP ON THE BACKSIDE OF THIS
SYSTEM SATURDAY EVENING. THIS SYSTEM MAINTAINS STRENGTH AS IT
LIFTS NORTHWEST OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS ON SUNDAY AND SHOULD BE
MONITORED FOR UPDATES INTO THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (DAYS 3 THROUGH 7)...

AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN WILL START TO TAKE SHAPE OVER THE AREA
AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND...WITH THE MAIN FEATURE BEING A STRONG
FRONTAL SYSTEM ASSOCIATED WITH A DEEPENING NORTH PACIFIC LOW
ENTERING THE BERING SEA SATURDAY. AS THIS SYSTEM SPREADS VERY
WINDY AND WET CONDITIONS NORTH AND EASTWARD THROUGH THE BERING AND
ALEUTIANS OVER THE WEEKEND...THE MORE CLEAR AND DRY CONDITIONS
OVER THE SOUTHWEST MAINLAND WILL WRAP UP BY SUNDAY MORNING AS THE
FRONT STARTS TO PUSH IN OVER THE AREA. AS THE LOW CENTER TRACKS
INTO THE CENTRAL BERING AND PROGRESSES NORTHWARD...WE EXPECT THE
STRONGEST WINDS TO REMAIN ON THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN FLANK OF THE
SYSTEM WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF COLD AIR ADVECTION HELPING TO MIX
GUSTIER WINDS DOWN FROM ALOFT. THE STRONG WESTERLY WINDS ALONG THE
SOUTHERN FLANK OF THE SYSTEM HAVE RAISED SOME CONCERN FOR COASTAL
FLOODING ALONG THE BRISTOL BAY AND KUSKOKWIM DELTA COAST FOR THE
BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK. CURRENTLY WE ARE EXPECTING MINIMAL IMPACTS
TO THE COASTAL AREAS WITH MINIMAL AMOUNTS OF ICE PILING UP...
HOWEVER THIS IS SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AS THE
SYSTEM EVOLVES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS
BEGINNING TO RISE AS MODELS ARE STARTING TO COME INTO BETTER
AGREEMENT WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE SYSTEM...HOWEVER...THE MODELS
ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM. THE GFS
IS NOW SHOWING A MORE EASTERLY SOLUTION WHEN IT HAS BEEN SHOWING
THE FURTHEST WEST SOLUTION FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS....AND THE EC DID
THE POLAR OPPOSITE WITH BECOMING THE WESTERN MOST SOLUTION WHEN IT
HAD BEEN THE MORE EASTERLY SOLUTION IN PRIOR RUNS. IT IS SAFE TO
SAY THAT THE MODELS ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING OUT THE
TRACK DETAILS...LEAVING FORECAST CONFIDENCE ON THE LOWER END OF
THE SPECTRUM.

FURTHER EAST...AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE SITUATED OVER THE GULF
BEGINS TO WEAKEN AND PUSH EASTWARD BY SUNDAY...AS A RIDGE TO THE
WEST DEVELOPS AHEAD OF A DEEPENING LOW PUSHING INTO THE BERING
SEA. SHOWERY CONDITIONS OVER SOUTHCENTRAL SATURDAY WILL DIMINISH
BY SUNDAY MORNING AS THE RIDGE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST...THEN MORE
STRATIFORM PRECIPITATION AND WINDY CONDITIONS WILL PICK BACK UP
AS THE FRONTAL SYSTEM MENTIONED ABOVE TRACKS THROUGH THE SOUTHERN
MAINLAND OVERNIGHT SUNDAY AND INTO MONDAY. AS THE FRONT PUSHES
FURTHER INLAND DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE WEEK...SHOWERY
CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN OVER MUCH OF SOUTHCENTRAL AS MULTIPLE WAVES
COMING OFF THE STRONG BERING LOW WORK THEIR WAY OVER THE AREA FROM
THE SOUTHWEST.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...HIGH WIND WATCH 187 191.
MARINE...HURRICANE FORCE 413.
	     STORM FORCE 173 174 175 176 177 178 411 412.
	     HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 160 180 181 185.
	     GALE 130 170 172 179 185 414.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...MSO
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...DS
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...KH
LONG TERM...TP

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 10, 3:11 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC13 hr
Dec 10, 3:29 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Dec 10, 3:29 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC23 hr
Dec 10, 3:29 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC36 hr
Dec 11, 3:47 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC11 hr
Dec 11, 3:47 AM AKSTHurricane Force Wind WarningAFC59 hr
Dec 11, 3:47 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC59 hr
Dec 11, 3:56 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC11 hr
Dec 11, 3:56 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC24 hr
Dec 11, 4:00 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC11 hr
Dec 11, 4:00 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC59 hr
Dec 11, 4:53 AM AKSTHigh Wind WatchAFC11 hr
Dec 11, 2:57 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC13 hr
Dec 11, 2:57 PM AKSTHurricane Force Wind WarningAFC37 hr
Dec 11, 2:57 PM AKSTHurricane Force Wind WarningAFC13 hr
Dec 11, 2:57 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC13 hr
Dec 11, 2:57 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC13 hr
Dec 11, 2:57 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC48 hr

Nearby

Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2015Every storm 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.