Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2016

Gale Warning 442, NWS Anchorage, AK

July 18, 2016

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Jul 18, 2016, 3:00 AM AKDT. 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
Jul 18, 2016, 3:00 AM AKDT (11:00 UTC)
Expired
Jul 19, 2016, 3:21 AM AKDT
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

620 
FZAK62 PAFC 181100
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
300 AM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016

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.

PKZ499-190045-
300 AM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 1025 MB LOW AT 50N 169W MOVES TO 55N 163W TUE AFTERNOON AND
DISSIPATES WED MORNING. A 998 MB LOW NEAR 50N 177E MOVES TO 55N
176W BY WED MORNING.

$$

PKZ411-190045-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE-
300 AM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016

...GALE WARNING TUESDAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. PATCHY FOG. DRIZZLE. VSBY 1 NM
OR LESS.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND UP TO 20 KT BECOMING E 15 TO 30 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.TUE...E WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.TUE NIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.WED THROUGH FRI...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.

$$

PKZ412-190045-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N-
300 AM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016

.TODAY...SW WIND 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. AREAS OF FOG. DRIZZLE.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.TUE...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.TUE NIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT.
.WED...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.THU THROUGH FRI...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.

$$

PKZ413-190045-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N-
300 AM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016

.TODAY...E WIND UP TO 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. PATCHY FOG. DRIZZLE.
.TONIGHT...E WIND UP TO 20 KT INCREASING TO 15 TO 30 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.TUE...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. AREAS OF FOG. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT.
.WED THROUGH FRI...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.

$$

PKZ414-190045-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W-
300 AM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016

.TODAY...SW WIND 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. PATCHY FOG. DRIZZLE.
.TONIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.TUE...S WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 2 TO 5 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT.
.WED THROUGH FRI...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.

$$
2 follow-up statements
342 
FZAK62 PAFC 182324
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
324 PM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016

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.

PKZ499-191300-
324 PM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CURRENTLY EXTENDS FROM 51N 160W TO 61N
180W. IT WILL GRADUALLY WEAKEN AND MOVE TO THE EASTERN BERING BY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON. ON TUESDAY MORNING A 991 MB LOW WILL MOVE TO
51N 174E. IT WILL WEAKEN TO 1004 MB AND MOVE TO 58N 174E BY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE ASSOCIATED FRONT WILL PROGRESS EASTWARD
THROUGH THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIANS BEGINNING TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-191300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE-
324 PM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016

...GALE WARNING TUESDAY...

.TONIGHT...S TO E WIND 10 TO 20 KT BECOMING E 15 TO 30 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 4 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.TUE...NE WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...SE TO NE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT. PATCHY
FOG. RAIN.
.WED AND WED NIGHT...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...SW WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.

$$

PKZ412-191300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N-
324 PM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016

.TONIGHT...SW WIND UP TO 15 KT BECOMING E AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 3
FT. PATCHY FOG. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.
.TUE...SE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.TUE NIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.WED...S WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...W WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.

$$

PKZ413-191300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N-
324 PM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016

.TONIGHT...E WIND 10 TO 20 KT INCREASING TO 15 TO 30 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS.
.TUE...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT. PATCHY FOG.
RAIN.
.WED...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT.
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...W WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.

$$

PKZ414-191300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W-
324 PM AKDT MON JUL 18 2016

.TONIGHT...VARIABLE WIND UP TO 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. PATCHY FOG. VSBY
1 NM OR LESS.
.TUE...S WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 2 TO 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.WED...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...W WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 9 FT.

$$
313 
FZAK62 PAFC 191121
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
321 AM AKDT TUE JUL 19 2016

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.

PKZ499-200100-
321 AM AKDT TUE JUL 19 2016
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 996 MB LOW NEAR 50N 177E MOVES TO 55N 175E AT 998 MB LATE
TONIGHT...THEN MOVES TO 59N 176E AT 1002 MB WED NIGHT.

$$

PKZ411-200100-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE-
321 AM AKDT TUE JUL 19 2016

.TODAY...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.WED...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.

$$

PKZ412-200100-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N-
321 AM AKDT TUE JUL 19 2016

.TODAY...SE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.WED...S WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 10 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...W WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.

$$

PKZ413-200100-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N-
321 AM AKDT TUE JUL 19 2016

.TODAY...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.WED...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...W WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT.

$$

PKZ414-200100-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W-
321 AM AKDT TUE JUL 19 2016

.TODAY...S WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 2 TO 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.WED...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT. PATCHY FOG.
.WED NIGHT...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.THU...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 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 Jul 17, 4:21 PM AKDT, 10 hours 39 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 4:21 PM AKDT, 10 hours 39 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
421 PM AKDT SUN JUL 17 2016

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

A closed upper level high pressure system over the northern
Bering...and an amplified upper level ridge over the Gulf of
Alaska dominate the weather scene. Between these two main
features a col covers much of the Southcentral mainland Alaska.
Meanwhile...a fairly weak upper level wave, associated with a low
well to the north of Barrow, is progressing across the northern
fringes of Southcentral. Compared with the past several days, the
current atmosphere is a lot more stable today, and only a few
isolated showers have developed in the western mainland. In
addition...cloud cover associated with the upper level wave is
spilling into the Susitna Valley and Copper River Basin and
helping to limit diurnal heating. Meanwhile, high pressure
continues to build across the Southwest mainland which is helping
to support westerly winds especially through local gaps.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

Models remain in quite good agreement today with two major high
pressure systems dominating the region. As a result...a general
blend of models was used today. The greatest uncertainty remains
in the strength of westerly and northwesterly flow through local
gaps across both Southcentral and the Kuskokwim Valley as
pressure gradients increase tonight. As winds are already gusty in
many of these areas, it is likely winds will be stronger than
models have anticipated.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...

High pressure will remain firmly entrenched across Southcentral
Alaska through Tuesday and keep max temperatures 10 to 15 degrees
above normal through the forecast period. Reaching critical fire
weather thresholds looks less of a concern on Monday and Tuesday
than previously thought as dewpoints continue to remain near 50
degrees. This moist air mass has been well sampled by RAOBs
statewide with precipitable water values right around
climatological normals (0.80" to 0.90"). These high precipitable
water values show that there is little dry air aloft that can mix
down and not too much dry air over the interior that can be
advected southward. Gusty winds will develop on Monday across the
Susitna Valley as winds downslope off the Alaska Range so some
modification of the moist air mass will be seen over the valley as
the air warms adiabatically as it descends. Gusty winds will be
seen along Turnagain Arm, through Portage Vally, Valdez, Whittier
and Seward with a nice outflow winds developing during the
overnight period.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
Temperatures will moderate somewhat during the early part of the
work week but still generally remain above seasonal normal values as
the ridge axis over the Southwest mainland shifts westward into
the Bering, yielding increasing northwest flow aloft. Several weak
disturbances embedded in this flow will bring a chance of rain to
mainly northern portions of the Kuskokwim Valley beginning on
Monday and lasting through Tuesday. Increasing westerly winds will
lead to the potential for Bering fog to advect onshore over
portions of the Kuskokwim Delta and coastal areas of Bristol Bay
through Tuesday morning.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2)...
Surface and upper level ridging will remain over the eastern half
of the Bering Sea through Tuesday, yielding persistent low stratus
and fog as well as patchy drizzle at times. A North Pacific low
will move into the Western Bering on Tuesday preceded by a front
on Monday night. This will bring a period of steadier rainfall to
the Western/Central Aleutians through Tuesday evening.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7)...

Tuesday evening, there will be a rather strong Arctic trough
centered over Beaufort Sea with another low over the western
Bering Sea. In between will be shortwave ridging over the eastern
Bering Sea. Offshore flow will keep Southcentral on the warmer
side while westerly flow over Southwest will keep that region more
moderated. Rain will be relegated to the Alaska Range and parts of
the Talkeetna Mountains/Wrangell Mountains. This pattern will
persist through Wednesday morning before a front associated with
the Bering low moves into Southern Alaska, spreading rain and
clouds eastward through Friday. This will be a moist and cooler
pattern after the hot and dry pattern most of southern Alaska has
seen the past week. By the weekend, uncertainty rises with just
how fast the low moves into the Gulf of Alaska and out of
Southcentral, but the weekend looks to improve as outflow winds
ensue behind the departing low.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...GALES 130 131 177.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...EN
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...MC
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...CB
LONG TERM...JA

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 3:00 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC49 hr
Jul 18, 3:00 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC6 days
Jul 18, 3:09 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Jul 18, 3:23 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Jul 18, 3:29 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC5 days

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.