Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2015

Gale Warning 92, NWS Fairbanks, AK

October 9, 2015

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Oct 9, 2015, 3:17 AM AKDT. It was in force for 48 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
Oct 9, 2015, 3:17 AM AKDT (11:17 UTC)
Expired
Oct 11, 2015, 3:14 AM AKDT
In force
48 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

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

715 
FZAK69 PAFG 091117
OFFAFG

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
317 AM AKDT FRI OCT 9 2015

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE US ARCTIC WATERS

SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF
THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE
TWICE AS HIGH.

PKZ599-100230-
317 AM AKDT FRI OCT 9 2015

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
THE SURFACE RIDGE NORTH OF THE ARCTIC COAST WILL PERSIST THROUGH
FRIDAY WHILE A TROUGH INLAND OVER THE ARCTIC SLOPE STRENGTHENS.
THE RIDGE WILL WEAKEN SAT AS 996MB LOW OVER THE HIGH ARCTIC SLIDES
SOUTHWARD INTO THE EAST SIBERIAN SEA. A FAIRLY STRONG PRESSURE
GRADIENT OVER MOST OF THE ARCTIC COAST WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE
WEEKEND.

$$

PKZ500-100230-
WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
317 AM AKDT FRI OCT 9 2015

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...NE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...E WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ505-100230-
CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
317 AM AKDT FRI OCT 9 2015

.TODAY...NE WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...E WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.MON...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ510-100230-
EASTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
317 AM AKDT FRI OCT 9 2015

.TODAY...NE WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...E WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...E WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

OCT 15
4 follow-up statements
119 
FZAK69 PAFG 092215
OFFAFG

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
215 PM AKDT FRI OCT 9 2015

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE US ARCTIC WATERS

SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF
THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE
TWICE AS HIGH.

PKZ599-101315-
215 PM AKDT FRI OCT 9 2015

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
THE SURFACE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE NORTH OF THE ARCTIC COAST WILL
SLIDE EAST TOWARD THE CANADIAN ARCHIPELAGO BY SAT MORNING. THIS
FEATURE COMBINED WITH BROAD LOW PRESSURE OVER FAR SW MAINLAND
ALASKA WILL KEEP A FAIRLY STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER MOST OF
THE ARCTIC WATERS THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

$$

PKZ500-101315-
WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
215 PM AKDT FRI OCT 9 2015

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...E WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.WED...E WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ505-101315-
CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
215 PM AKDT FRI OCT 9 2015

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...E WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN NIGHT...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...E WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT.  

$$

PKZ510-101315-
EASTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
215 PM AKDT FRI OCT 9 2015

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...E WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...E WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...E WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

NS/RM OCT 15
488 
FZAK69 PAFG 101109
OFFAFG

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
309 AM AKDT SAT OCT 10 2015

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE US ARCTIC WATERS

SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF
THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE
TWICE AS HIGH.

PKZ599-110215-
309 AM AKDT SAT OCT 10 2015

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE EXTENDS INTO THE BEAUFORT SEA AND THE
NORTHERN CHUKCHI SEA FROM THE HIGH ARCTIC. MEANWHILE...STRONG LOW
PRESSURE IS OVER THE EXTREME SW MAINLAND. THE RIDGE WILL CONTINUE
TO STRENGTHEN AND SHIFT EASTWARD INTO THE EASTERN CANADIAN
ARCHIPELAGO BY SUN AS LOW PRESSURE PERSISTS OVER MAINLAND AK.

$$

PKZ500-110215-
WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
309 AM AKDT SAT OCT 10 2015

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...E WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...W WINDS 10 KT. SEAS 4 FT.  

$$

PKZ505-110215-
CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
309 AM AKDT SAT OCT 10 2015

NO FORECAST AS AREA IS MOSTLY ICE-COVERED.

$$

PKZ510-110215-
EASTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
309 AM AKDT SAT OCT 10 2015

NO FORECAST AS AREA IS MOSTLY ICE-COVERED.

$$

ET/JK OCT 15
029 
FZAK69 PAFG 102146
OFFAFG

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
146 PM AKDT SAT OCT 10 2015

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE US ARCTIC WATERS

SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF
THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE
TWICE AS HIGH.

PKZ599-111300-
146 PM AKDT SAT OCT 10 2015

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE EXTENDS INTO THE BEAUFORT SEA AND THE
NORTHERN CHUKCHI SEA FROM THE HIGH ARCTIC. MEANWHILE...LOW
PRESSURE IS OVER THE SW MAINLAND. THE RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO
STRENGTHEN BUT SHIFT EASTWARD INTO THE EASTERN CANADIAN
ARCHIPELAGO BY SUN AS LOW PRESSURE PERSISTS OVER MAINLAND AK. THE
PATTERN WILL KEEP MODERATE TO STRONG WINDS OVER THE ARCTIC COASTAL
WATERS THROUGH SUN.

$$

PKZ500-111300-
WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
146 PM AKDT SAT OCT 10 2015

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 30 KT WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 45 KT. SEAS 12 FT.
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...E WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...N WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...W WINDS 10 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.THU...S WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT.  

$$

PKZ505-111300-
CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
146 PM AKDT SAT OCT 10 2015

NO FORECAST AS AREA IS MOSTLY ICE-COVERED.

$$

PKZ510-111300-
EASTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
146 PM AKDT SAT OCT 10 2015

NO FORECAST AS AREA IS MOSTLY ICE-COVERED.

$$

CF/LTH OCT 15
825 
FZAK69 PAFG 111114
OFFAFG

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
314 AM AKDT SUN OCT 11 2015

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE US ARCTIC WATERS

SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-THIRD OF
THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE
TWICE AS HIGH.

PKZ599-120215-
314 AM AKDT SUN OCT 11 2015

.SYNOPSIS FOR ARCTIC WATERS...
A RIDGE CURRENTLY EXTENDS SOUTH INTO THE NORTHERN CHUKCHI SEA TO
EASTERN BEAUFORT SEA TO BANKS ISLAND. MEANWHILE...LOW PRESSURE
EXTENDS OVER NORTHERN ALASKA ANCHORED BY A 969 MB LOW IN EXTREME
NORTH PACIFIC. LOW PRESSURE WILL PERSIST AS THE RIDGE STRENGTHENS
AND SHIFTS FARTHER EAST INTO THE EASTERN CANADIAN ARCHIPELAGO
TODAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL PERSIST OVER THE NORTHERN BEAUFORT SEA
AND EASTERN CANADIAN ARCHIPELAGO TOMORROW AS LOW PRESSURE WEAKENS
AND EXPANDS NORTH INTO THE CHUKCHI SEA AND SOUTHERN BEAUFORT SEA.

$$

PKZ500-120215-
WESTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
314 AM AKDT SUN OCT 11 2015

.TODAY...E WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NE WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...NW WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...W WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.WED...SW WINDS 10 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.THU...W WINDS 10 KT. SEAS 4 FT.  

$$

PKZ505-120215-
CENTRAL US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
314 AM AKDT SUN OCT 11 2015

NO FORECAST AS AREA IS MOSTLY ICE-COVERED.

$$

PKZ510-120215-
EASTERN US ARCTIC OFFSHORE-
314 AM AKDT SUN OCT 11 2015

NO FORECAST AS AREA IS MOSTLY ICE-COVERED.

$$

ET/JK OCT 15

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 Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Oct 8, 1:45 PM AKDT, 13 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 8, 1:45 PM AKDT, 13 hours 32 minutes before
NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
145 PM AKDT THU OCT 8 2015

.DISCUSSION...
ALOFT...PERSISTENT LOW REMAINS IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AROUND 230
MILES SSE OF KODIAK...WITH A DOWNSTREAM RIDGE THAT EXTENDS FROM
THE EASTERN INTERIOR OF ALASKA SOUTHEASTWARD THROUGH BRITISH
COLOMBIA AND INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. A 527 DM LOW WAS SEEN
EARLY THIS MORNING OVER THE CENTRAL BEARING SEA. NORTH OF THIS
FEATURE...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE EXTENDS OVER THE CHUKCHI AND
WESTERN BEAUFORT SEA. FINALLY...500 DM LOW WAS SEEN OVER FAR
NORTHERN CANADA AT 71 N 97 W WITH SHORT WAVE TROUGHING EXTENDING
EAST OF THE LOW AND DROPPING SOUTHWARD FROM THE HIGH ARCTIC.

SURFACE...968 MB LOW REMAINS VERTICALLY STACKED BELOW GULF OF
ALASKA LOW...WITH A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE EXTENDING TO THE
NORTHWEST INTO THE CENTRAL BERING SEA. BROAD HIGH PRESSURE AT 1030
MB EXTENDS OVER THE CHUKCHI AND BEAUFORT SEAS.

MODEL GUIDANCE...MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT OF OVERALL OMEGA
BLOCKING PATTERN PERSISTING OVER ALASKA THROUGH THIS
WEEKEND...WITH BROAD LOW PRESSURE ALOFT IN THE GULF AND ANOTHER
AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CANADIAN ARCHIPELAGO. IN BETWEEN
RIDGING WILL REMAIN FROM THE NORTH SLOPE...EXTENDING SOUTHWARD
THROUGH EASTERN INTERIOR OF ALASKA AND INTO THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. A SERIES OF SHORTWAVE TROUGHS WILL WEAKEN THE RIDGE
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...WITH THE RIDGE EXPECTED TO BECOME
REESTABLISHED ON SUNDAY. OMEGA BLOCK WILL BEGIN TO BREAK DOWN
LATER SUNDAY WITH GULF OF ALASKA LOW GRADUALLY WEAKENING AND
SHIFTING EASTWARD. BROAD SCALE TROUGHING WILL DEVELOP OVER THE
BERING SEA THIS WEEKEND. AT THE SURFACE...LOW PRESSURE WILL REMAIN
IN THE GULF THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL CYCLONE
OHO WILL MOVE INTO THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA AND WILL PASS NEAR
YAKUTAT BY LATE FRIDAY EVENING...MERGING WITH THE EXISTING LOW IN
THE GULF AND WEAKENING SATURDAY. HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER THE
CHUKCHI AND BEAUFORT SEAS WILL GRADUALLY WEAKEN THROUGH FRIDAY AS
997 MB LOW IN THE HIGH ARCTIC SLIDES TO THE SOUTH AND STRENGTHENS
TO A 995 MB LOW IN THE EAST SIBERIAN SEA BY LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.

NORTH SLOPE...NO MAJOR IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED HERE THROUGH THE SHORT
AND MEDIUM RANGE. GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE ARCTIC COAST
THROUGH THE WEEKEND DUE TO PRESSURE GRADIENT THAT EXISTS OVER THE
NORTHERN TWO THIRDS OF MAINLAND ALASKA. GALE CONDITIONS WILL EXIST
OFF THE NORTHWEST ARCTIC COAST THROUGH FRIDAY. ONSHORE FLOW WILL
GENERATE PERIODS OF SEA INDUCED FLURRIES OR FREEZING DRIZZLE
THROUGH FRIDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO SATURDAY.

WEST COAST...BROAD LOW PRESSURE IN THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL BRING
SCATTERED RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS MAINLY TO THE SOUTHWEST ALASKA
THROUGH SATURDAY. THIS AREA WILL EXPAND TO MORE OF THE WEST COAST
BY SUNDAY AS BROADER TROUGHING EXPANDS INTO THE BERING SEA. THE
STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN HIGH PRESSURE IN THE ARCTIC AND
LOW PRESSURE IN THE GULF WILL KEEP GUSTY WINDS OVER THE WEST COAST
THROUGH TONIGHT...GRADUALLY DIMINISHING ON FRIDAY.

INTERIOR...GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE NORTHEASTERLY FLOW
REGIME THROUGH AT LEAST TONIGHT...MAINLY FOCUSED IN THE MIDDLE
TANANA VALLEY NEAR DELTA AND OVER SUMMITS OF THE EASTERN AND
CENTRAL INTERIOR. A COUPLE WEAK SHORT WAVES WILL ROUND THE
BROADER PARENT LOW OVER THE GULF IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. THE
FIRST WILL MOVE INTO THE SOUTHEAST INTERIOR TONIGHT...BRINGING
SCATTERED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE YUKON RIVER
TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY. ANY SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED TO BE
AROUND AN INCH OR LESS. A SECOND WAVE...WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE
REMNANTS OF POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE OHO...WILL BRING MORE RAIN AND
SNOW SHOWERS TO THE SOUTHEAST INTERIOR FOR SATURDAY. AGAIN ANOTHER
INCH OR TWO OF SNOW ACCUMULATION LOOKS TO OCCUR WITH THIS SECOND
WAVE. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE INTERIOR FOR SUNDAY.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ240.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

NTS OCT 15

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 8, 10:09 PM AKDTWind AdvisoryAFG53 hr
Oct 9, 3:19 AM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG3 days
Oct 9, 3:21 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG59 hr
Oct 9, 2:14 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG72 hr
Oct 9, 2:14 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFG4 days
Oct 9, 2:15 PM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFG13 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.