Gale Warning 125, NWS Anchorage, AK

080 
FZAK62 PAFC 280004
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
304 PM AKST MON FEB 27 2017

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.

PKZ499-281430-
304 PM AKST MON FEB 27 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
BOGOSLOF VOLCANO AT 54N 168W REMAINS ACTIVE. A FRONT OVER THE
WESTERN AND CENTRAL ALEUTIANS PERSISTS AND REMAINS STATIONARY
THROUGH WED AFTERNOON. HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN
BERING PERSISTS THROUGH WED AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-281430-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE-
304 PM AKST MON FEB 27 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 9 TO 17 FT.
.TUE...E WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 TO 18 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.WED...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 11 TO 17 FT.
.WED NIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.

$$

PKZ412-281430-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N-
304 PM AKST MON FEB 27 2017

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT.
.TUE...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE NIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED...E WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT.
.WED NIGHT...E WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT.

$$

PKZ413-281430-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N-
304 PM AKST MON FEB 27 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.
.TUE...E WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.WED...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.
.WED NIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.

$$

PKZ414-281430-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W-
304 PM AKST MON FEB 27 2017

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY N
OF 57N.
.TUE...N WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY N OF
56N.
.TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY
N OF 56N.
.WED...N WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT.
.WED NIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT.

$$

786 
FZAK62 PAFC 281210
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
310 AM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017

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.

PKZ499-010215-
310 AM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
BOGOSLOF VOLCANO AT 54N 168W REMAINS ACTIVE. HIGH PRESSURE HOLDS
OVER THE BERING SEA THROUGH THU MORNING. A 993 MB SOUTH KAMCHATKA
LOW EXTENDS A FRONT INTO THE THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS THROUGH THU
MORNING. THE NORTH PACIFIC LOW MOVES TO 49N 177E AT 1013 MB BY THU
MORNING.

$$

PKZ411-010215-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE-
310 AM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...E WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 TO 19 FT.
.TONIGHT...E WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 12 TO 19 FT. RAIN.
.WED...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 TO 17 FT.
.WED NIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 17 FT.

$$

PKZ412-010215-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N-
310 AM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017

.TODAY...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED...E WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED NIGHT...E WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...NE WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.

$$

PKZ413-010215-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N-
310 AM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...E WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.TONIGHT...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.WED...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.
.WED NIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.

$$

PKZ414-010215-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W-
310 AM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...N WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED NIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT.
.THU THROUGH SAT...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT.

$$

882 
FZAK62 PAFC 010001
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
301 PM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017

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.

PKZ499-011445-
301 PM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
BOGOSLOF VOLCANO AT 54N 168W REMAINS ACTIVE. HIGH PRESSURE HOLDS 
OVER THE BERING SEA THROUGH THU MORNING. A 993 MB SOUTH KAMCHATKA 
LOW EXTENDS A FRONT INTO THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS THROUGH THU MORNING. 
A 1009 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW NEAR 46N 179E MOVES TO 50N 173E AT 
1015 MB BY THU NIGHT.

$$

PKZ411-011445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE-
301 PM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 TO 18 FT.
.WED...E WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 11 TO 17 FT.
.WED NIGHT...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 TO 16 FT.
.THU...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT.
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 17 FT.

$$

PKZ412-011445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N-
301 PM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017

.TONIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED NIGHT...E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT.
.THU...NE WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 7 FT.
.THU NIGHT...E WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.

$$

PKZ413-011445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N-
301 PM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017

.TONIGHT...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.
.WED...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.
.WED NIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.
.THU...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.
.THU NIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...NE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.

$$

PKZ414-011445-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W-
301 PM AKST TUE FEB 28 2017

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 
N OF 56N.
.WED...N WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED NIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.THU...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.THU NIGHT...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 6 FT.
.SUN...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT.

$$

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
416 PM AKST Sun Feb 26 2017

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
A large upper ridge over the north Pacific extends north to over
mainland Alaska. The flow across the mainland has become nearly
zonal (westerly) as the northern periphery of the ridge is being
flattened by an eastward moving upper wave. Moisture rounding the
top of the ridge, associated with a broad surface front, brought
snow across portions of Southwest Alaska. Due to downsloping
conditions east of the Alaska/Aleutian Range, most areas across
Southcentral were dry except for upslope areas along the Talkeetna
Mountains and portions of the Copper River Basin. Mid and high
clouds are starting to clear across Southcentral revealing low
stratus from the Mat-SU Valleys south to Cook Inlet and the
western Kenai Pen. The strengthening low pressure trough over the
northern Gulf produced brisk westerly winds across the western
Gulf/western Prince William Sound.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION (through Tuesday afternoon)...
The numerical models through Tuesday afternoon are in fairly good
agreement. The NAM/GFS will be generally used in the West. The NAM
generally looks good for use in the east. Hand edits will also be
needed in the east to address strong gap flows Monday night.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...IFR to MVFR Cigs may break up some this afternoon but will
more likely reform again tonight. With the presence of this cloud
deck expect visibilities to remain higher than the past couple
days, though there still may be some reduction at times.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
The abundant valley stratus has persisted through much of the day
and is only now partially breaking up this afternoon. With low
level winds relatively light tonight and flat ridging persisting,
expecting to see the stratus to fill back in again overnight
although fog should remain sparse and patchy. A cold upper level
trough will swing into Southcentral Alaska from the northwest
Monday afternoon bringing a brief period of light snow during the
afternoon and evening. Expecting to see snow totals around a half
of an inch for most locations with up to two possible along west
facing slopes where cold advection snow showers will last longer.

Northwesterly gap winds will increase sharply following the
passage of the upper level trough Monday afternoon and evening.
Expecting to see storm force winds through the Barrens and out of
gaps and passes in the Alaska/Aleutian range impacting portions of
Shelikof Strait and Cook Inlet. Additionally, westerly winds will
build through eastern Turnagain Arm, Portage Valley and Whittier,
with northerlies building through Broad Pass and Resurrection Bay.
North to northeasterly winds will then become very strong through
Thompson Pass as the northerly offshore pressure gradient builds
along the northern Gulf Coast through midweek with the chance for
these stronger winds to mix down into Valdez at times Tuesday and
Wednesday.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
Light snow and rain will continue to linger over the Southwest
mainland through this evening, and become more showery overnight
as the front shifts further southeastward over the Alaskan and
Aleutian Ranges. Accumulating snowfall is expected to remain
mainly along the mountains through Monday evening, with snow
shower activity over the remainder of the Southwest mainland
persisting through Tuesday morning. However, there could be a few
lingering pockets of rain or mixed precipitation confined to the
Bristol Bay coastal areas through this evening. Cooler air from
the north will begin to filter in behind the aforementioned front
tonight, starting a colder trend in temperatures that looks to
persist through much of this coming week.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2)...
High pressure building into the Bering will continue to push the
front southward through Monday. Rain and snow over the eastern
half of the Bering and Aleutians will diminish and switch to snow
showers on Monday before tapering off. A front associated with a
low just east of the Kamchatka Peninsula Monday will bring some
warmer and moist air from the North Pacific over the Western
Aleutians and Bering. This system will bring another round of
gale force gusts and rain through mid week from Atka west.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7)...
The developing upper level trough over the mainland will close a
center off over the Gulf by mid week while a dominant ridge
centers over the western Bering. Northerly flow between these
systems will keep a colder pattern over the southern mainland
through the end of the week. Strong shortwaves diving along the
west coast will re-enforce cold air along with gusty winds. A
drier pattern mid week may need to adjusted as moisture begins
to round the eastern side of ridge along with a stronger short
wave propagating in from the Arctic closer to Friday. Models
were in better agreement with the synoptic pattern today. The
ECMWF/ensembles were favored for run to run consistency in the
extended forecast.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...Heavy Freezing Spray Warning 121 129 130 136 137 138 139
160 180 185. Storm Warning 130 131. Gale Warning 120 121 129 132
136 137 138 139 150 177 178.

&&

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