Gale Warning 17, NWS Anchorage, AK

701 
FZAK61 PAFC 250018
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
318 PM AKST TUE JAN 24 2017

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.

PKZ399-251415-
318 PM AKST TUE JAN 24 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A WEAK FRONT WILL MOVE TOWARD THE NORTH GULF COAST BY LATE
TONIGHT. A SECOND MORE POWERFUL STORM FORCE FRONT WILL MOVE TO THE
NORTH GULF COAST EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

$$

PKZ351-251415-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
318 PM AKST TUE JAN 24 2017

...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 TO 20 FT. RAIN SHOWERS.
.WED...S WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 13 TO 19 FT. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT. SEAS 14 TO 22 FT. RAIN.
.THU...S WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 15 TO 20 FT.
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 14 TO 19 FT.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT.

$$

PKZ352-251415-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
318 PM AKST TUE JAN 24 2017

...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 17 TO 23 FT.
.WED...S WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 14 TO 21 FT. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 13 TO 21 FT. RAIN.
.THU...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 TO 19 FT.
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 14 TO 20 FT.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 16 FT.

$$

791 
FZAK61 PAFC 251301
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
401 AM AKST WED JAN 25 2017

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.

PKZ399-260200-
401 AM AKST WED JAN 25 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A WELL DEVELOPED FRONT ENTERS THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA AND
SWEEPS TO THE NORTH GULF COAST AND SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA BY THU
AFTERNOON. A 976 MB LOW MOVES TO 55N 141W BY FRI MORNING.

$$

PKZ351-260200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
401 AM AKST WED JAN 25 2017

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...S WIND 15 TO 30 KT BECOMING SE 25 TO 40 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 12 TO 18 FT. RAIN SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 15 TO 21 FT. RAIN.
.THU...S WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 16 TO 20 FT.
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 13 TO 17 FT.
.FRI...S WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 TO 17 FT.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT.

$$

PKZ352-260200-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
401 AM AKST WED JAN 25 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...S WIND 30 KT BECOMING SE IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 15 TO 21
FT. RAIN SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 TO 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 30 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 13 TO 20 FT. RAIN.
.THU...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT.
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 17 FT.

$$

893 
FZAK61 PAFC 260036
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
336 PM AKST WED JAN 25 2017

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.

PKZ399-261445-
336 PM AKST WED JAN 25 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 979 MB LOW NEAR 52N 147W MOVES TO 59N 154W THU MORNING...THEN
MOVES FURTHER INTO SOUTHWEST ALASKA. ANOTHER 978 MB LOW NEAR 54N
143W THU NIGHT MOVES TO 61N 147W AT 985 MB FRI AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ351-261445-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
336 PM AKST WED JAN 25 2017

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 TO 50 KT. SEAS 15 TO 21 FT. RAIN.
.THU...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 TO 20 FT.
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.FRI...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 TO 16 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT.
.MON...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 TO 9 FT.

$$

PKZ352-261445-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
336 PM AKST WED JAN 25 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 TO 45 KT BECOMING S 15 TO 30 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 13 TO 20 FT. RAIN.
.THU...S WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT.
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT DIMINISHING TO UP TO 20 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 15 TO 18 FT.
.FRI...SW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 TO 17 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT.
.MON...SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.

$$

043 
FZAK61 PAFC 261258
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
358 AM AKST THU JAN 26 2017

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.

PKZ399-270145-
358 AM AKST THU JAN 26 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A FRONT MOVES TO THE NORTH GULF COAST AND SOUTHEAST ALASKA THU
AFTERNOON. A 979 MB LOW AT 55N 142W THIS AFTERNOON MOVES ONSHORE
NEAR 60N 144W MIDDAY FRI. A FRONT ENTERS THE WESTERN GULF OF
ALASKA FRI MORNING AND STALLS NORTH OF KODIAK ISLAND SAT MORNING.
A 975 MB LOW MOVES TO 56N 142W SAT MORNING.

$$

PKZ351-270145-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
358 AM AKST THU JAN 26 2017

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 TO 20 FT.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT BECOMING E UP TO 20 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 12 TO 16 FT.
.FRI...S WIND UP TO 20 KT INCREASING TO 15 TO 25 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 10 TO 16 FT. RAIN SHOWERS.
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 TO 16 FT.
.MON...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.

$$

PKZ352-270145-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
358 AM AKST THU JAN 26 2017

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 20 TO 35 KT. SEAS 14 TO 18 FT.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT BECOMING S UP TO 20 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 12 TO 17 FT.
.FRI...SW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 TO 16 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...W WIND UP TO 20 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 17 FT.
.MON...SE WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.

$$

619 
FZAK61 PAFC 270027
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
327 PM AKST THU JAN 26 2017

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.

PKZ399-271330-
327 PM AKST THU JAN 26 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 980 MB LOW NEAR 54N 140W TONIGHT MOVES INTO EASTERN ALASKA EARLY
FRI MORNING. ANOTHER 981 MB LOW NEAR 56N 142W FRI NIGHT ALSO MOVES
INTO EASTERN ALASKA BY MIDDAY SAT. ASSOCIATED FRONTS ASSOCIATED
WITH BOTH LOWS WILL MOVE NORTHWARD ACROSS THE WESTERN GULF THROUGH
SAT AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ351-271330-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
327 PM AKST THU JAN 26 2017

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT BECOMING E UP TO 20 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 12 TO 15 FT. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING.
.FRI...S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 10 TO 20 KT BECOMING W AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 9
TO 15 FT.
.SAT...W WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 TO 17 FT.
.SUN...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 TO 16 FT.
.MON THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 TO 12 FT.

$$

PKZ352-271330-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
327 PM AKST THU JAN 26 2017

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT BECOMING S WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS
15 FT.
.FRI...SW WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...W WIND UP TO 20 KT INCREASING TO 15 TO 25 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 13 FT.
.SAT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 16 FT.
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 TO 15 FT.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT.

$$

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
451 PM AKST Mon Jan 23 2017

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
There is a large upper low centered near the eastern Aleutians
which covers most of the Bering Sea and southern Alaska.
There is a surface low centered just to the south of the upper
low. The main front associated with this low stretches from the
southeast Gulf of Alaska to the Kenai Peninsula, then westward
into southwest Alaska. Plenty of precipitation is associated with
this front, mainly along the Gulf coast. Precipitation is much
reduced inland due to down-sloping off the coastal mountain
ranges. This entire system is bringing in much warmer air, with
locations from the eastern Aleutians through Kodiak already
changed over to rain.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
The numerical models are in reasonable agreement for the short
term portion of the forecast (through Wednesday afternoon). There
are some differences in how the models are handling the
development of a low south of Kodiak Island late Wednesday
morning into the early afternoon. The GFS and Canadian Gem are
developing a more robust surface low, while the ECMWF and Nam are
weaker.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...VFR conditions will return early this evening as the snow
ends. Some wind shear is expected tonight as the mid to upper
level front moves across the area.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
A warm front tracking into the Northern Gulf coast and Cook Inlet
region will continue to produce widespread snow and some localized
areas of gusty winds over these areas, with temperatures gradually
warming both aloft and at the surface through tonight. However,
snowfall over the Anchorage area and Western Kenai will begin to
lighten up late this afternoon as cross-barrier winds become more
favorable for downsloping. Higher snow totals are expected along
the areas surrounding Prince William Sound and the Eastern Kenai
Peninsula through tonight.

The main uncertainty for this forecast package remains the
potential and timing of if/when Snow over the areas surrounding
Prince William Sound and the Eastern Kenai will change over to a
mix or rain. While this system is filtering in ample amounts of
warm air northward, cold air remains in place from Seward to
Valdez. Cold drainage flows are expected to persist through
tonight as the front pushes further northward. We are expecting
areas along the Northern Gulf coast to begin to mix with rain by
Tuesday morning, as the warmer airmass overtakes the colder air
already in place.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
Snow and gusty northerly winds will continue to produce areas of
blowing snow across western portions of Bristol Bay through late
tonight as the front pushes inland. Conditions will then begin to
improve as winds diminish with the passage of the front. Showers
will continue across the southwest mainland through the middle of
the week in broad cyclonic flow on the periphery of upper trough
over the eastern Bering. Southerly flow will also bring gradually
warming temperatures, including during the overnight hours tonight
as warmer air moves northward behind the front.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2)...
The Bering will be characterized by generally benign showery
conditions in the wake of the strong front which has now mostly
pushed inland. Allowed the Blizzard Warning to expire for the
Pribilof Islands, but replaced it with a Blowing Snow Advisory
through the early evening hours to account for lingering
visibility reductions before snow diminishes in intensity and
winds subside slightly this evening. Otherwise, the upper trough
will remain over the eastern Bering through Wednesday as the first
North Pacific low weakens and another low moves south of the
Akpen. This will keep a mix of rain and snow showers over the
southeast Bering and scattered snow showers over the remainder of
the region in cold northerly flow.

&&

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

The main challenge for Wednesday night into Thursday will be the re-
enforcing warm front which moves from the Gulf to the coast.
There is uncertainty on the track of the surface low that pulls
the front into the mainland. At this time, the low is expected to
cross from the Pacific to the eastern Bering. Precipitation along
the front over the Gulf will be rain which is expected to spread
inland creating a mix of rain and snow or changing over to rain by
Thursday afternoon. The other big challenge will be wind with this
front. A tight pressure gradient along the front will bring gusty
conditions across the gulf and for much of the southern mainland
as the front moves inland. East to West oriented gaps will see the
strongest winds with this system.

The weather trend through the end of the week continues above
normal for temperatures and precipitation for the southern
mainland with a cooler trend remaining across the Bering as the
long wave trough remains centered over the Bering. The upper level
pattern should shift east this weekend and bring cooler temperatures
back to Southcentral as strong shortwaves move off of the Kamchatka
Peninsula forcing the upper low center closer to the west coast.
The weather pattern continues in an active regime into the beginning
of next week. Details in the extended forecast will need to be monitored
as models have multiple strong waves to handle.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...WSW 161 and 195.
MARINE...Storm 119. Gale 125 131 174-176 179 185 351 412-414.

&&

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