Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2016

Gale Warning 121, NWS Anchorage, AK

February 19, 2016

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Feb 19, 2016, 3:14 AM AKST. It was in force for 49 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
Feb 19, 2016, 3:14 AM AKST (12:14 UTC)
Expired
Feb 21, 2016, 3:51 AM AKST
In force
49 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

762 
FZAK61 PAFC 191214
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
314 AM AKST FRI FEB 19 2016

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-200200-
314 AM AKST FRI FEB 19 2016
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 980 MB LOW NEAR 54N 150W DRIFTS TO 56N 155W THIS EVENING AND MAINTAINS
STRENGTH...THEN DISSIPATES. A 972 MB COMPLEX LOW DEVELOPS NEAR 53N 154W
LATE TONIGHT AND MOVES TO 55N 158W LATE SAT NIGHT WITH LITTLE CHANGE
IN STRENGTH. AN ASSOCIATED FRONT ENTERS THE SOUTHWESTERN GULF SAT
MORNING AND MOVES INTO THE CENTRAL GULF SAT AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ351-200200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
314 AM AKST FRI FEB 19 2016

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY...

.TODAY...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...E WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT.
.SUN...S WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 13 TO 19 FT.
.MON...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 14 FT.
.TUE...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 TO 28 FT.

$$

PKZ352-200200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
314 AM AKST FRI FEB 19 2016

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT. RAIN SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 12 FT. RAIN.
.SAT...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SAT NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT.
.SUN...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 TO 19 FT.
.MON...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 TO 14 FT.
.TUE...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 16 TO 30 FT.

$$
4 follow-up statements
165 
FZAK61 PAFC 200011
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
311 PM AKST FRI FEB 19 2016

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-201500-
311 PM AKST FRI FEB 19 2016
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 975 MB LOW NEAR 56N 153W DRIFTS TO 56N 156W LATE TONIGHT THEN
DISSIPATES. A 974 MB LOW NEAR 52N 158W MOVES TO 58N 160W SUN
AFTERNOON AT 982 MB. AN ASSOCIATED FRONT ENTERS THE SOUTHWESTERN
GULF SAT MORNING AND MOVES INTO THE NORTHERN GULF COAST LATE
SAT...THEN STALLS THROUGH SUN.

$$

PKZ351-201500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
311 PM AKST FRI FEB 19 2016

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.SAT...SE WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 25 TO 40 KT BECOMING S WIND 15 TO 30 KT IN
THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 13 TO 19 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT.
.MON...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 11 TO 15 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 13 TO 28 FT.

$$

PKZ352-201500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
311 PM AKST FRI FEB 19 2016

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT INCREASING TO 25 TO 40 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.SAT...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT BECOMING S 15 TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 10 TO 15 FT. RAIN.
.SAT NIGHT AND SUN...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 TO 19 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...S WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 14 TO 17 FT.
.MON...SE WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 TO 17 FT.
.TUE...E WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 17 TO 32 FT.
.WED...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 TO 22 FT.

$$
122 
FZAK61 PAFC 201221
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
321 AM AKST SAT FEB 20 2016

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-210230-
321 AM AKST SAT FEB 20 2016
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 968 MB LOW NEAR 53N 155W MOVES TO 56N 160W AT 972 MB LATE SAT NIGHT...THEN
DRIFTS INTO THE BERING. AN ASSOCIATED FRONT OVER THE SOUTHERN GULF MOVES
TO THE NORTHERN GULF SAT AFTERNOON...THEN STALLS ALONG THE NORTH GULF
COAST. A 988 MB LOW NEAR 55N 141W LATE SAT NIGHT MOVES TO 60N 149W MIDDAY
SUN...THEN MOVES INTO INTERIOR ALASKA.

$$

PKZ351-210230-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
321 AM AKST SAT FEB 20 2016

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...E WIND INCREASING TO 35 TO 50 KT THIS MORNING. WINDS
BECOMING SE 20 TO 35 KT LATE THIS AFTERNOON. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT.
RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT BECOMING SE UP TO 15 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 12 TO 17 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT BECOMING S 20 TO 30 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 14 TO 22 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT.
.MON...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT.
.TUE...E WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 15 TO 30 FT.
.WED...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 15 TO 22 FT.

$$

PKZ352-210230-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
321 AM AKST SAT FEB 20 2016

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT BECOMING S 20 TO 35 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 10 TO 16 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT.
.SUN...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 10 TO 16 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 16 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT.
.TUE...E WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 20 TO 30 FT.
.WED...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 TO 22 FT.

$$
814 
FZAK61 PAFC 210017
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
317 PM AKST SAT FEB 20 2016

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-211500-
317 PM AKST SAT FEB 20 2016
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 968 MB LOW NEAR 54N 156W MOVES TO 57N 161W AT 980 MB SUN AFTERNOON...
THEN DRIFTS INTO THE BERING. AN ASSOCIATED FRONT OVER THE CENTRAL GULF
MOVES TO THE NORTHERN GULF TONIGHT...THEN STALLS ALONG THE NORTH GULF
COAST. A 988 MB LOW NEAR 56N 142W EARLY SUN MOVES MOVES INLAND
NEAR 61N 152W SUN AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ351-211500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
317 PM AKST SAT FEB 20 2016

.TONIGHT...SE 20 TO 30 KT WITH GUSTS TO 40 KT BEFORE MIDNIGHT BECOMING
S WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 11 TO 17 FT. RAIN.
.SUN...SW WIND UP TO 20 KT BECOMING S 20 TO 30 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 14 TO 20 FT. RAIN.
.SUN NIGHT...S WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 TO 17 FT.
.MON...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT.
.MON NIGHT...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 9 TO 12 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...SE WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 16 TO 24 FT.
.THU...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT.

$$

PKZ352-211500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
317 PM AKST SAT FEB 20 2016

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 17 FT.
.SUN...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 15 TO 18 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT.
.MON...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 TO 15 FT.
.MON NIGHT...E WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 10 TO 17 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...SE WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 16 TO 27 FT.
.THU...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT.

$$
513 
FZAK61 PAFC 211251
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
351 AM AKST SUN FEB 21 2016

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-220245-
351 AM AKST SUN FEB 21 2016
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 989 MB LOW NEAR 56N 142W BECOMES A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE NEAR SEWARD
LATE THIS MORNING. AN ASSOCIATED FRONT ALONG THE NORTH GULF COAST MOVES
INLAND AND DISSIPATES BY AFTERNOON. ANOTHER FRONT OVER THE SOUTHWEST
GULF MOVES TO THE NORTHERN GULF LATE TONIGHT...THEN DISSIPATES. A
STRONG FRONT APPROACHES THE SOUTHERN GULF LATE MON NIGHT.

$$

PKZ351-220245-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
351 AM AKST SUN FEB 21 2016

.TODAY...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT BECOMING S 20 TO 30 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 14 TO 21 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 15 TO 19 FT. RAIN SHOWERS.
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT. RAIN SHOWERS.
.MON NIGHT...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT.
.TUE THROUGH WED...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 13 TO 28 FT.
.THU...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 TO 16 FT.

$$

PKZ352-220245-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
351 AM AKST SUN FEB 21 2016

.TODAY...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT. RAIN SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN SHOWERS.
.MON...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT BECOMING S 10 TO 20 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 12 TO 15 FT.
.MON NIGHT...E WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 10 TO 17 FT.
.TUE...SE WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 15 TO 30 FT.
.WED...SE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 16 TO 24 FT.
.THU...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 12 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 Feb 18, 4:50 PM AKST, 10 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 18, 4:50 PM AKST, 10 hours 24 minutes before
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
450 PM AKST THU FEB 18 2016

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...THE PATTERN IS DEFINITELY MORE
DYNAMIC AND INTERESTING THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
FIRST...THE REMNANTS OF THE FRONT THAT STALLED OVER THE SOUTHWEST
IS FALLING APART IN PLACE. SNOW HAS ALL BUT ENDED ACROSS THE
AK PENINSULA WITH JUST A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS HOLDING ON IN
THE TRAILING GUSTY NORTHWEST FLOW. NEXT UP IS A FAIRLY BROAD LOW
OUT OVER THE WESTERN BERING. WHILE THE LOW ITSELF IS NOW SLOWLY
FILLING...IT HAS PUSHED AN ELONGATED FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS MUCH
OF THE CENTRAL BERING. THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS ARE JUST EAST OF THIS
BOUNDARY AT THIS TIME. BUT AS IT DRIFTS EAST THEY SHOULD START TO
SEE THE SOUTHEAST WINDS INCREASE AND SNOW PICK UP IN INTENSITY. A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS. ON THE
SOUTHERN END OF THIS BOUNDARY...A TRIPLE POINT LOW IS STARTING TO
TAKE SHAPE. THIS LOW WILL HELP TO REINFORCE SOME WARM SOUTHEAST
FLOW OVER THE EASTERN BERING AND SOME COLDER NORTHWEST FLOW OVER
THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS. THIS SHOULD SET THE STAGE FOR A FAIRLY
SIGNIFICANT SNOW EVENT FOR NIKOLSKI WITH STORM-FORCE NORTHERLY
WINDS. A BLIZZARD WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THAT AREA.

MEANWHILE...HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO KEEP THINGS RELATIVELY
QUIET IN THE EAST. SOME LOW STRATUS LINGERS OVER THE COPPER RIVER
BASIN...BUT THIS SHOULD ONCE AGAIN LIFT SOMEWHAT LATE THIS
AFTERNOON. IT COULD REDEVELOP OVERNIGHT AS THE PATTERN WILL BE SLOW
TO CHANGE. THE MAIN FEATURE OF INTEREST IS THE WEAKENING LOW NEAR
KODIAK. EARLIER TODAY IT WAS DIVIDING THE ISLAND IN TWO WITH WARM
SOUTHEAST FLOW NEAR KODIAK CITY PROVIDING RAIN WHILE THE SOUTH END
OF THE ISLAND WAS SNOW UNDER COLD NORTHWEST FLOW. THE
SOUTHEASTERLIES HAVE WON THIS BATTLE AND NOW ALL LOCATIONS HAVE
GONE OVER TO RAIN. WEAK OFFSHORE FLOW WILL CONTINUE FOR THE
MAINLAND AS AN OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY PIVOTS WEST FROM THE GULF
TOWARD THE EASTERN KENAI PENINSULA.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...SYNOPTICALLY...ALL MODELS REMAIN IN PRETTY
GOOD AGREEMENT. BUT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS FORECAST WITH MANY
FINE DETAILS MAKING DRAMATIC DIFFERENCES...THE HIGHER RESOLUTION
MODELS WERE GENERALLY PREFERRED. THE KEY DIFFERENCES ARE WITH THE
EXACT LOCATION OF THE DEFORMATION BAND NEAR THE PRIBS AND HOW FAR
WEST THE SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW CAN PUSH INTO THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS.
THE 18Z NAM DID COME IN A BIT FURTHER WEST WITH THE COLD AIR FOR
THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS. BUT EVEN WITH THAT SHIFT...NIKOLSKI WOULD
REMAIN IN SOME OF THE HEAVIEST BANDS OF SNOW. FOR THE PRIBS...THE
NAM WAS BY FAR THE COLDEST WHICH WOULD RESULT IN MORE SNOW AND
BETTER POTENTIAL FOR BLOWING SNOW. A MODEL AVERAGE WAS USED IN
HANDLING THIS IN ORDER TO NOT REFLECT THE MORE EXTREME SOLUTION.

THEN WE SHIFT OUR ATTENTION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR PRECIPITATION
OVER SOUTH CENTRAL OVER THE WEEKEND. THE MODELS HAVE BEEN GOING
BACK AND FORTH WITH THIS EVENT...BUT THEY ARE STARTING TO TREND IN
A SIMILAR DIRECTION. SEE THE LONG TERM DISCUSSION FOR DETAILS.

&&

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

THE VERTICALLY STACKED LOW TO THE SOUTHEAST OF KODIAK ISLAND WILL
CONTINUE TO DRIFT AROUND IN THAT GENERAL LOCATION TONIGHT THEN
PULL BACK TO THE WEST FRIDAY TO DISSIPATE JUST SOUTH OF KODIAK
ISLAND FRIDAY EVENING. THE FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LOW WILL
REMAIN STRETCHED OVER OR NEAR KODIAK ISLAND KEEPING PRECIPITATION
GOING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. ELSEWHERE IN SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA THE
WEATHER WILL REMAIN GENERALLY COOL AND DRY WITH BREEZY NORTH TO
NORTHEAST OUTFLOW WINDS THROUGH TERRAIN GAPS. THE NEXT LOW COMING
IN FROM THE WEST AND BRINGING A GOOD SUPPLY OF COLD AIR ALOFT
WITH IT WILL TRACK SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA FRIDAY NIGHT
WITH ITS ASSOCIATED FRONT LIFTING NORTH INTO THE SOUTHWEST GULF
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING AND TO THE CENTRAL GULF
SATURDAY.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2)...
THE FRONT THAT HAD STALLED OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA IS RAPIDLY
DIMINISHING WHICH WILL HELP TO CLEAR OUT THE REMAINING SNOW AROUND
BRISTOL BAY THIS EVENING. THE LOW SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA
WILL THEN BE PUSHED NORTH LATE FRIDAY BRINGING MORE WARM AIR FROM
THE SOUTHEAST. THE LOW WILL REMAIN SOUTH KEEPING MOST OF THE
PRECIPITATION AROUND BRISTOL BAY AND THE ALASKA PENINSULA.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (DAYS 1 AND 2)...
THE MAIN CONCERN OVER THE BERING AND ALEUTIANS IS WHERE THE
DEFORMATION ZONE WILL SETUP. SOME OF THE MODELS HAVE IT OVER THE
PRIBILOF ISLANDS AND STRETCHING SOUTH OVER THE NIKOLSKI AREA.
WHILE OTHERS HAVE THE BAND FURTHER TO THE WEST. IT LOOKS LIKE THE
MORE EASTERN SOLUTIONS WILL HAPPEN WHICH WILL BRING SNOW AND
STRONG WINDS TO THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WITH
SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW NEAR NIKOLSKI. AREAS EAST OF THE
DEFORMATION ZONE LIKE UNALASKA LOOK TO STAY OUT OF THE HEAVY SNOW
AND WINDS. THE WORST CONDITIONS WILL DIMINISH FRIDAY AND THEN A
PATTERN OF NORTH TO WEST FLOW WILL DOMINATE THE BERING AND
ALEUTIANS BRINGING SNOW SHOWERS TO THE AREA.

&&

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

THE MAJOR WEATHER EVENT OF THE MID TO LONG TERM WILL BE ON DAY 3
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF A ROBUST FRONT INTO THE SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA ON
SUNDAY WITH A WEAK LOW MOVING NORTHWESTWARD INTO THE KENAI
PENINSULA AND PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND SOMETIME SUNDAY
AFTERNOON/EVENING. MODELS ARE COMING INTO SOMEWHAT BETTER
AGREEMENT WITH THE TIMING AND LOCATION OF THIS EVENT...BUT WITH
THAT BEING SAID THERE IS STILL A GOOD BIT OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THE
IMPACTS TO THE INTERIOR SECTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA. ALONG
THE COAST...CONFIDENCE IS HIGH FOR PERIODS OF HEAVY PRECIPITATION
TO BEGIN EARLY SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. AT SEA
LEVEL...PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN ALL RAIN WITH WET SNOW
EXPECTED INLAND AND AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS ALONG THE COASTAL
MOUNTAINS. IN INTERIOR REGIONS...THE FORECAST ON SUNDAY IS NOT AS
CLEAR CUT. ALL GUIDANCE IS INDICATING THAT WINDS AT 925 THROUGH
700 MB WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH /AT LEAST 45-65KT/ TO PUSH MOISTURE
OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND INTO UPPER COOK INLET AND THE MATANUSKA AND
LOWER SUSITNA VALLEYS. MODEL QPF VALUES CURRENTLY ARE RANGING
FROM AROUND 1-2 INCHES LIQUID EQUIVALENT IN THE GREATER ANCHORAGE
AREA ON SUNDAY. THE QUESTION IS WHAT WILL BE THE FORM OF THE
PRECIPITATION. GUIDANCE IS VARYING FROM RUN TO RUN AND MODEL TO
MODEL WITH A SPREAD BETWEEN MODELS OF AROUND AN INCH OF SNOW AT
THE LOW END UPWARDS TO 25+ INCHES AT THE HIGH END. THE MAIN
INFLUENCE ON PRECIPITATION TYPE WILL BE HOW MUCH COLD AIR REMAINS
IN THE COOK INLET REGION AS THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH AND HOW MUCH
WARM AIR ALOFT...IF ANY...MAKES IT INTO THE AREA.

WITH ALL THIS SAID...THE FORECAST IS VERY CONSERVATIVE FOR THIS
PACKAGE WITH LIKELY CHANCES OF A RAIN/SNOW MIX ALONG THE UPPER
COOK INLET REGION WITH THE CHANCE OF SOME ACCUMULATING SNOW ON
SUNDAY. LIKELY ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED IN HIGHER
TERRAIN...MAINLY ALONG COASTAL REGIONS. THE FORECAST FOR SUNDAY
WILL BEAR WATCHING OVER THE NEXT 24-48 HOURS AS THERE IS AT LEAST
THE POTENTIAL FOR A SIGNIFICANT WINTER EVENT ON SUNDAY.

DAYS 4 THROUGH 7...MODELS ARE IN GROSS AGREEMENT IN THE SYNOPTIC
PATTERN AT THE UPPER LEVELS WITH A STOUT RIDGE BUILDING ALONG THE
WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA FROM THE BROOKS RANGE SOUTHWARD ALONG
THE CASCADES INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA WITH A BROAD TROUGH OVER THE
NORTH PACIFIC/BERING SEA. THIS TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO HAVE TWO MAIN
CENTERS...ONE LOCATED ROUGHLY AROUND 45N 165W AND A SECOND CENTER
OVER THE SEA OF OHKOSK. AS WITH THE UPPER LEVELS...MODELS ARE IN
BROAD AGREEMENT WITH A SERIES OF LOWS MOVING THROUGH THE ALEUTIANS
AND THE BERING SEA THROUGH THE BROAD UPPER TROUGH WITH A SURFACE
HIGH ALONG THE SE ALASKA/BC COAST. DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN
TIMING...STRENGTH...AND POSITIONS WITH THESE SYSTEMS THE DAY 4
THROUGH 7 FORECAST LEANS HEAVY ON THE WPC FORECAST /WHICH IS
MOSTLY THE 00Z EC ENSEMBLE/. THIS SOLUTION MOVES A 970-975 MB LOW
ALONG THE SOUTH END OF THE ALEUTIANS MONDAY AND TUESDAY BEFORE
MERGING INTO A BROAD LOW SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA BY
THURSDAY. THIS PATTERN WILL KEEP THE KODIAK AND THE GULF COAST IN
A WET PATTERN THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
	PUBLIC...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY...195 BLIZZARD WARNING...185.
	MARINE...STORM...174
 			GALE...131 150 170 172 173 175 176 177 178 179 185
 			HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY...160 178 180 185

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...MO
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...JR
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...DK
LONG TERM...RF

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 18, 3:16 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Feb 18, 3:16 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC72 hr
Feb 18, 3:16 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC61 hr
Feb 18, 3:39 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC36 hr
Feb 18, 3:39 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Feb 19, 3:13 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Feb 19, 3:44 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC3 days
Feb 19, 3:44 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC11 hr
Feb 19, 3:44 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC48 hr
Feb 19, 3:47 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC60 hr
Feb 19, 3:47 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC48 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2016Every gale warning in 2016

Sources

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