Gale Warning 189, NWS Anchorage, AK

729 
FZAK61 PAFC 020032
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
332 PM AKST WED MAR 1 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.

PKZ399-021515-
332 PM AKST WED MAR 1 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 996 MB LOW AT 57N 149W WILL MOVE TO 54N 148W LATE TONIGHT AND 
THEN SOUTH OF THE GULF OF ALASKA THU MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE WILL 
BUILD OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA THU MORNING THROUGH FRI AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ351-021515-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
332 PM AKST WED MAR 1 2017

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.
.THU...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.
.THU NIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT.
.SAT THROUGH MON...NE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT.

$$

PKZ352-021515-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
332 PM AKST WED MAR 1 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 TO 40 KT BECOMING N 15 TO 30 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. E OF 150W...SW WIND 10 TO 20 KT IN THE EVENING. SEAS 8 TO 
13 FT.
.THU...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT.
.THU NIGHT...NW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 TO 17 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT.
.SAT THROUGH MON...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 10 FT.

$$

158 
FZAK61 PAFC 021230
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
330 AM AKST THU MAR 2 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.

PKZ399-030145-
330 AM AKST THU MAR 2 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST 
THE AFTERNOON THEN WEAKEN TONIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE 
GULF TONIGHT THROUGH FRI NIGHT.

$$

PKZ351-030145-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
330 AM AKST THU MAR 2 2017

.TODAY...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT. SNOW SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT. SNOW SHOWERS.
.FRI...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.
.SAT THROUGH MON...NE WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT.

$$

PKZ352-030145-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
330 AM AKST THU MAR 2 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NW WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 13 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT. RAIN AND SNOW
SHOWERS.
.FRI...N WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 TO 19 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS.
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.
.SAT THROUGH MON...N WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.

$$

156 
FZAK61 PAFC 030029
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
329 PM AKST THU MAR 2 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.

PKZ399-031515-
329 PM AKST THU MAR 2 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE NORTHERN GULF COAST 
THROUGH SAT AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ351-031515-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
329 PM AKST THU MAR 2 2017

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT BECOMING NW 10 TO 20 KT 
AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.
.SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT.
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...N WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT.

$$

PKZ352-031515-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
329 PM AKST THU MAR 2 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 10 TO 18 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 TO 19 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT BECOMING NW 15 TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.
.SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 10 FT.
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...N WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT.

$$

547 
FZAK61 PAFC 031237
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
337 AM AKST FRI MAR 3 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.

PKZ399-040145-
337 AM AKST FRI MAR 3 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE NORTHERN GULF COAST
THROUGH SAT NIGHT.

$$

PKZ351-040145-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
337 AM AKST FRI MAR 3 2017

.TODAY...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT.
.TONIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT.
.SAT...NW WIND 10 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT.
.SUN...N WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.MON THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.

$$

PKZ352-040145-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
337 AM AKST FRI MAR 3 2017

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...N WIND 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 TO 18 FT.
.TONIGHT...N WIND 30 KT BECOMING NW 15 TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 9 TO 14 FT.
.SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 10 FT.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.

$$

354 
FZAK61 PAFC 040052
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
352 PM AKST FRI MAR 3 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.

PKZ399-041400-
352 PM AKST FRI MAR 3 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...A TROUGH EXTENDS ALONG
THE NORTH GULF COAST AND SOUTHEAST ALASKA THROUGH SUN AFTERNOON. 
HIGH PRESSURE WEAKENS ACROSS THE SOUTHWESTERN GULF OF ALASKA THROUGH 
SUN AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ351-041400-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W-
352 PM AKST FRI MAR 3 2017

.TONIGHT...N WIND 15 TO 30 KT BECOMING 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
6 TO 11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.SAT...NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 9 FT.
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.SUN...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT.
.MON THROUGH WED...N WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 9 FT.

$$

PKZ352-041400-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W-
352 PM AKST FRI MAR 3 2017

.TONIGHT...N WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT.
.SAT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 10 FT.
.SUN...NW WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.SUN NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.MON THROUGH WED...N WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT.

$$

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
352 PM AKST Tue Feb 28 2017

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
An upper level trough continues to dig southward across the
western Gulf of Alaska, supporting a surface low in the Gulf.
To the west, the ridge continues to amplify across the Western
Bering, with broad high pressure at the surface. The pressure
gradient between these two features has been generating gusty
gap winds along the north Gulf coast. The mixing associated
with these winds has kept overnight temperatures warmer.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
Models are in generally good agreement today in capturing the
gusty winds across portions of central Bristol Bay and the
Kuskokwim Delta. Models are also in general agreement of the
outflow winds very gradually weakening through the evening hours.
The high resolution models are still performing the best at
capturing these gap winds and as a result were favored for the
forecast. In addition, models are generally in agreement of the
trough digging southward and the intensification of the upper
level low as it pinches off.

&&

.AVIATION... Expect VFR conditions and gusty northerly winds to
persist through Wednesday morning.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
In two words: cold, windy. The upper level pattern remains pretty
steady state for the next 48 hours. The only precipitation over
the area will remain over Gulf waters as several disturbances
rotate around the upper low pressure. Gusty wind will continue
to be the main forecast issue elsewhere. The surface pressure
gradient will stay compressed along the north gulf coast,
continuing gap winds in favored locations. Mountain-wave activity
will weaken in the Valdez area tonight, so gusts, while still
continuing, will not be as severe as last night and this morning.
Winds will continue at the same level through the pass.

The gradient shifts slightly tonight, favoring more winds in the
Matanuska Valley with gusts into the 40s. This shift will also
bring more gusty winds into the Cook Inlet region with the
strongest gusts right along the Inlet. While the air mass is much
colder, these winds will keep temperatures from dropping further.

On Thursday, winds will pulse upward along the Gulf coast once
again with the potential to be stronger than the current event.
Keep an eye on the forecast for further updates.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
With high pressure over the Bering and low pressure over the
Gulf of Alaska, northerly flow will continue into Thursday. The
northerly winds will bring down dry, colder air from the north
and also help to keep skies clear. With unstable conditions and
shortwaves moving through the area, gusty winds are expected
through tonight and into Wednesday. The combination of winds and
cold temperatures will bring cold wind chills for much of
southwest Alaska tonight and Wednesday morning.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2)...
High pressure over the central Bering will keep most of the
activity out west over the Western Aleutians. An old stalled front
sits over the area while another weak system moves toward the
Western Aleutians from the south. This system will also be stalled
by the high pressure as it nears the islands. Out east over the
Eastern Aleutians and Alaska Peninsula, northerly flow will bring
showers to the Bering side of the islands and peninsula. The
showers will diminish early Wednesday as the main trough moving
through the area pushes off to the south.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7)...
By the beginning of the extended forecast period (Friday) much
of the region will have already undergone a transition in the
overall pattern, with a broad upper level trough over much of the
Mainland and Gulf, and strong ridging out west over the Bering Sea
and Aleutians. This general setup will persist through early next
week, which will consist of colder air filtering down from the
arctic and strong outflow winds over parts of the Southern
Mainland. Models remain in good agreement with the overall pattern
into the weekend. As expected though, there is more uncertainty
with regards to the finer details, especially with respect to low
amplitude shortwave troughs diving south toward the Gulf of Alaska
coast Friday through Monday.

All three major global deterministic models, (the ECMWF, Canadian
GDPS, and GFS) along with their respective ensembles, are also
depicting a rather significant bora polar air outbreak across much
of Mainland Alaska. There is potential of seeing 850 hpa
temperatures reaching as low as -20C to -30C across the Southern
Mainland with cold offshore flow along the coast. The March sun
should moderate some of the cold air at the surface, but the
reality of this situation is it will be quite cold and well below
average for the next 7-9 days, dominated by dry offshore flow and
cold interior temperatures.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...Heavy Freezing Spray Warning 121 126 127 129 130 136 137
138 139 141 150 160 165 180 185. Gale Warning 127 130 131 132 136
137 139 150 155 165 175 176 177 178 180.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...EN
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...MTL
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...DK
LONG TERM...TP