Gale Warning 157, NWS Anchorage, AK

Issued

Feb 10, 2016, 3:01 PM AKST (00:01 UTC)

Expired

Feb 11, 2016, 4:00 AM AKST

In force

13 hr

Issued by

NWS Anchorage, AK

550 
FZAK52 PAFC 110001
CWFALU

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE ALASKA
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE
ALASKA PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS UP TO 100 NM OUT.

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.

PKZ199-111300-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS...
A 975 MB LOW 240 NM SOUTH OF COLD BAY MOVES TO 200 NM SOUTHWEST
OF COLD BAY AT 986 MB BEFORE DISSIPATING BY LATE THU. A BROAD
AREA OF LOW PRESSURE CENTERED 480 NM SOUTHWEST OF KISKA THU
AFTERNOON MOVES TO 250 NM SOUTH OF ATKA FRI AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ150-111300-
SOUTH OF THE AK PENINSULA SITKINAK TO CASTLE CAPE-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 15 KT BECOMING NE 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
FROM CHIRIKOF ISLAND S...E WIND 15 KT BECOMING N 20 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 15 FT SUBSIDING TO 11 FT.
.THU...NE WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
FROM CHIRIKOF ISLAND S...N WIND 15 KT BECOMING VARIABLE IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 9 FT.
.THU NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 15 KT BECOMING S AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 9 FT.
.FRI...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT.
.SUN...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 11 FT.
.MON...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.

$$

PKZ155-111300-
SOUTH OF THE AK PENINSULA CASTLE CAPE TO CAPE SARICHEF-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN.
.THU...E WIND 20 KT. FROM THE SHUMAGIN ISLANDS E...VARIABLE WIND
10 KT. SEAS 12 FT SUBSIDING TO 9 FT IN THE AFTERNOON.
.THU NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. FROM THE SHUMAGIN ISLANDS E...VARIABLE
WIND LESS THAN 10 KT BECOMING SE 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 9 FT.
.FRI...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.SUN THROUGH MON...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.

$$

PKZ160-111300-
BRISTOL BAY-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 8 FT SUBSIDING TO 5 FT.
.THU...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.THU NIGHT...NE WIND 15 KT BECOMING E 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 4 FT.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT.
.SAT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.MON...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT.

$$

PKZ165-111300-
PORT HEIDEN TO CAPE SARICHEF-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT BECOMING E 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 12 FT.
.THU...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.THU NIGHT...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. FROM PORT MOLLER
E...NE WIND 15 KT BECOMING VARIABLE LESS THAN 10 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 4 FT SUBSIDING TO 2 FT.
.FRI...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT.
.SAT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.SUN...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.

$$

PKZ170-111300-
CAPE SARICHEF TO NIKOLSKI BERING SIDE-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. 
SEAS 11 FT SUBSIDING TO 9 FT.
.THU...NE WIND 15 KT BECOMING E IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 8 FT.
.THU NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.SAT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.SUN...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.

$$

PKZ171-111300-
UNALASKA BAY-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

.TONIGHT...N WIND 20 KT DIMINISHING TO 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
GUSTS TO 30 KT IN THE EVENING. SEAS 7 FT SUBSIDING TO 3 FT. RAIN.
.THU...NE WIND 10 KT BECOMING E IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 3 FT.
.THU NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT.
.SAT...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.SUN...NW WIND 10 KT. SEAS 3 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT.

$$

PKZ172-111300-
CAPE SARICHEF TO NIKOLSKI PACIFIC SIDE-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 16 FT SUBSIDING TO 12 FT.
.THU...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 11 FT SUBSIDING TO 8 FT IN THE AFTERNOON.
.THU NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.FRI...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.SAT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.SUN...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.

$$

PKZ173-111300-
NIKOLSKI TO SEGUAM ISLAND BERING SIDE-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 8 FT.
.THU...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.THU NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT BECOMING E 15 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 7 FT.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.SAT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.SUN...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.

$$

PKZ174-111300-
NIKOLSKI TO SEGUAM ISLAND PACIFIC SIDE-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT.
.THU...NW WIND 15 KT BECOMING VARIABLE LESS THAN 10 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 11 FT SUBSIDING TO 9 FT.
.THU NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND LESS THAN 10 KT. SEAS 8 FT SUBSIDING TO
5 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.SAT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT.
.SUN...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT.

$$

PKZ175-111300-
SEGUAM ISLAND TO ADAK BERING SIDE-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

.TONIGHT...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.THU...N WIND 10 KT BECOMING VARIABLE IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 7 FT.
.THU NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND LESS THAN 10 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.SAT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.SUN...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT.

$$

PKZ176-111300-
SEGUAM ISLAND TO ADAK PACIFIC SIDE-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.THU...N WIND 15 KT BECOMING VARIABLE 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 9 FT.
.THU NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.FRI...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.SAT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.SUN...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT.

$$

PKZ177-111300-
ADAK TO KISKA-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 15 KT BECOMING VARIABLE 10 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 8 FT SUBSIDING TO 5 FT.
.THU...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.THU NIGHT...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT BERING SIDE...8 FT PACIFIC SIDE.
.FRI...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.SUN...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT.

$$

PKZ178-111300-
KISKA TO ATTU-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.THU NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.SUN...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT.

$$

PKZ179-111300-
PRIBILOF ISLANDS NEAR SHORE WATERS-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.THU...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.THU NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.SAT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.SUN...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.MON...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.

$$

PKZ180-111300-
KUSKOKWIM DELTA AND ETOLIN STRAIT-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT. S OF
CAPE NEWENHAM...NE WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY N OF CAPE
NEWENHAM NEAR THE ICE EDGE.
.THU...NE WIND 25 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. S OF
CAPE NEWENHAM...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY N OF CAPE NEWENHAM NEAR THE ICE EDGE.
.THU NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY N OF CAPE NEWENHAM NEAR THE ICE EDGE.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT.
.SAT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT.
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 4 FT.
.MON...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 3 FT.

$$

PKZ181-111300-
NORTH AND WEST OF NUNIVAK ISLAND-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. 
.THU...NE WIND 25 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE WIND 20 KT.
.MON...SE WIND 20 KT.

$$

PKZ185-111300-
SAINT MATTHEW ISLAND WATERS-
301 PM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT E OF SAINT MATTHEW ISLAND...NE 25 KT W
OF SAINT MATTHEW ISLAND. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY NEAR THE
ICE EDGE.
.THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY NEAR THE
ICE EDGE.
.THU NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY NEAR
THE ICE EDGE. 
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.SAT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.SUN...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.MON...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.

$$

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Feb 10, 5:34 AM AKST, 9 hours 27 minutes earlier.

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
534 AM AKST WED FEB 10 2016

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

A BROAD AND COMPLEX UPPER LEVEL LOW CENTERED NEAR 46N 160W
CONTINUES TO DRIVE THE WEATHER PATTERN FOR MUCH OF THE AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY...WITH A TRAIN OF DISTURBANCES ROTATING AROUND THE
PRIMARY CENTER OF ACTION. THE MOST NOTABLE CURRENTLY HAS A 969 MB
SURFACE LOW CENTERED NEAR 52N 156W AND ATTENDANT SURFACE FRONT
EXTENDING WELL NORTHEAST OF THE LOW MOVING WEST AND NORTH FROM THE
NORTH PACIFIC AND GULF TOWARD THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN BERING
REGION. SATELLITE-DERIVED WINDS INDICATE MAINLY SOLID GALES WITH
NORTHEAST WINDS OUT AHEAD OF THE SYSTEM IMPACTING THE SOUTHWEST
GULF...SHELIKOF STRAIT...AND THE SOUTHERN ALASKA PENINSULA COASTAL
WATERS...WITH A SMALL AREA OF LOW-END STORM-FORCE WINDS SOUTHWEST
OF KODIAK ISLAND. ADDITIONALLY...MIDDLETON ISLAND NEXRAD DEPICTS A
LARGE AREA OF STRATIFORM PRECIPITATION MOVING NORTHWEST TOWARD THE
NORTH-CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST GULF COAST.

AS THIS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO GRAZE SOUTHERN ALASKA...THE PRESSURE
GRADIENT HAS INCREASED ALONG THE NORTH GULF COAST. THIS HAS
RESULTED IN INCREASED WINDS THROUGH THE NORTH-SOUTH ORIENTED
GAPS...ESPECIALLY NEAR THOMPSON PASS...WHERE STRONG WINDS ARE
COMBINING WITH 8 INCHES OF TRANSPORTABLE SNOW TO CREATE
SIGNIFICANT VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS WITH BLOWING SNOW.

BEHIND THIS DISTURBANCE...THE NEXT SYSTEM WITH 977 MB SURFACE LOW
AND ATTENDANT FRONT IS PUSHING NORTH THROUGH THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC
TOWARD THE SOUTHERN GULF OF ALASKA.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

MODEL AGREEMENT IS GOOD THROUGH THE SHORT TERM WITH THE CURRENT
AND TRAILING SYSTEMS ROTATING AROUND THE NORTH PACIFIC LOW...HOWEVER
MINOR DISCREPANCIES BEGIN TO ARISE BY FRIDAY WITH A THIRD AND
POTENTIALLY FOURTH SYSTEM MOVING TOWARD THE GULF OF ALASKA.
DIFFERENCES ALSO BEGIN TO EMERGE SOUTH OF THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN
ALEUTIANS AT THIS TIME AS A BROAD AND COMPLEX LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
WITH EMBEDDED ROTATING DISTURBANCES MOVES FROM THE NORTHWEST
PACIFIC TOWARD THIS AREA. THE FORECAST THROUGH THE SHORT-TERM
UTILIZES MAINLY THE HIGH-RES MODELS AND THE GFS.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2)...
THE BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA IS
SWINGING A COUPLE FRONTS TOWARDS THE SOUTHCENTRAL FROM THE SOUTH.
THE FIRST IS ALREADY MOVING THROUGH THE NORTH GULF COAST BRINGING
RAIN AND SNOW TO THE AREA. HOWEVER...MUCH OF THE PRECIPITATION
WILL STAY ON THE GULF SIDE OF THE COASTAL RANGES. THE NEXT FRONT
WILL IMPACT THE COAST TONIGHT WITH ONLY A SMALL BREAK BETWEEN THE
TWO SYSTEMS. SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL THEN KEEP RAIN AND SNOW ALONG THE
COAST THROUGH THURSDAY.

A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT ALONG THE COAST IS HELPING TO CAUSE
OUTFLOW WINDS THROUGH THE NORTH SOUTH ORIENTED GAPS. THOMPSON
PASS IS ONE OF THOSE GAPS AND WITH WINDS AND TRANSPORTABLE SNOW ON
THE GROUND...BLOWING SNOW IS A CONCERN THROUGH THE PASS. THE
WINDS WILL DIMINISH THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND LESSEN THE CONCERN FOR
BLOWING SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON EVEN AS NEW SNOW FALLS.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (DAYS 1 AND 2...WED AND
THU)...GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS WILL BE THE STORY FOR THE NEXT 24
HOURS. THE MID 970 MB LOW SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA IS WORKING
IN TANDEM WITH AN ARCTIC HIGH OVER THE ARCTIC OCEAN TO PRODUCE A
FAIRLY TIGHT GRADIENT ACROSS MUCH OF THE SOUTHWEST. WHILE THE
INLAND AIRMASS IS NOT OVERLY COLD (ESPECIALLY FOR THIS TIME OF
YEAR)...THERE WILL BE ENOUGH THERMAL DIFFERENCE TO CREATE SOME
GUSTS TO NEAR 50 MPH TODAY. PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LOW
WILL CONFINED TO THE ALASKA PENINSULA AND EASTERN ALEUTIAN RANGE.

ON THURSDAY...YET ANOTHER LOW WILL MAKE A TREK FROM THE CENTRAL
GULF TOWARD KODIAK ISLAND. THIS LOW WILL TRACK SLIGHTLY FARTHER
NORTH. AS IT PUSHES ANOTHER PULSE OF WARM AIR UP AGAINST THE
CONTINENTAL POLAR AIR INLAND...AN INVERTED TROUGH WILL DEVELOP.
THIS FEATURE WILL SWING FROM THE ALASKA RANGE THROUGH THE YK-
DELTA. IT WILL LIKELY BRING SOME RAIN TO AREAS FURTHER SOUTH...BUT
COULD BRING SOME ACCUMULATING SNOW TO PARTS OF THE KUSKOKWIM
VALLEY AND LOCATIONS EAST. WE WILL BE WATCHING THIS FEATURE AS THE
FORECAST DEVELOPS.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (DAYS 1 AND 2...WED AND
THU)...THE LOW THAT WAS SOUTH OF THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS YESTERDAY
IS BECOMING JUST A REMNANT BOUNDARY ACROSS THE WESTERN BERING. IT
CONTINUES TO PRODUCE SOME LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
MEANWHILE...THE LOW NEAR THE AKPEN WILL BE THE DRIVER FOR THE
NEXT DAY OR SO. AS IT SLIPS TOWARD DUTCH HARBOR LATER
TONIGHT...EXPECT PRECIPITATION...MOSTLY IN THE FORM OF RAIN...TO
IMPACT ALL OF THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL BE ON
THE PACIFIC SIDE. EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL ALSO BE ON THE
INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY UNTIL THE LOW STARTS TO FILL LATER
TONIGHT. BROAD SUB-GALE FORCE CYCLONIC FLOW WILL TAKE OVER ON
THURSDAY. ONE WEAK LOW APPROACHES THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS FROM THE
NORTH PACIFIC TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK...BUT LOOKS TO HAVE
MINIMAL IMPACT.

&&

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

NUMERICAL MODELS CONTINUE TO BE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH THE
BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK WITH THE OVERALL PROGRESSION OF THE
LONGWAVE PATTERN OVER THE BERING SEA AND NORTH PACIFIC. THE
AMPLIFIED LONGWAVE TROUGH SITUATED OVER THE BERING SEA AND NORTH
PACIFIC WILL SLOWLY PROPAGATE EASTWARD AND SWITCH FROM A NEGATIVE
TILT TO A POSITIVE TILT AS THE JET ENERGY TRANSITIONS FROM THE
ENTRANCE REGION OF THE TROUGH TO THE EXIT REGION. AS THIS
HAPPENS...SEVERAL UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES AND ASSOCIATED SURFACE
FEATURES WILL IMPACT THE GULF OF ALASKA AND SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA.
SEVERAL FRONTS WILL IMPACT MAINLY THE NORTHERN GULF COAST WHICH
WILL KEEP RAINFALL CHANCES PRETTY HIGH AS RAIN UPSLOPES ALONG THE
MOUNTAINS. WITH NOT A LOT OF UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT THESE FRONT
SHOULD FALL APART ALONG THE COASTAL MOUNTAINS AND LEAVE MUCH OF
INTERIOR SOUTHCENTRAL ON THE DRY SIDE. SOUTHWEST ALASKA AND THE
BERING SEA WILL BE ON THE SHOWERY SIDE WITH NO STRONG FEATURES
EXPECTED UNTIL LATE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY WHEN MODELS START HINTING
AT A DECENT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM REPLACING THE SLOWLY DEPARTING
UPPER LEVEL TROUGH. THE REASON FOR THE SHOWERY REGIME IS DUE IN
LARGE PART TO THE BROAD CYCLONIC FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE LONGWAVE
TROUGH. THE AMPLITUDE OF THE LONGWAVE TROUGH IS SUCH THAT IT IS
PREVENTING ANY LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS FROM THE NORTH PACIFIC TO BE
ABLE TO RE-CURVE INTO THE BERING SEA. TEMPERATURES LOOKS TO
REMAIN WELL ABOVE NORMAL FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN ALASKA THROUGH THE
WEEKEND BEFORE SOME COLD AIR ADVECTION IS EXPECTED ON THE BACK
SIDE OF THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH ON TUESDAY.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY 131
MARINE...STORM 138
         GALE  119 120 127 130 131 132 139 150 155 160 165
               180 351 352
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 180 181 185

&&

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

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2016Every gale warning in 2016

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