Gale Warning 222, NWS Anchorage, AK

Issued

Mar 12, 2017, 3:11 PM AKDT (23:11 UTC)

Expired

Mar 13, 2017, 3:45 AM AKDT

In force

13 hr

Issued by

NWS Anchorage, AK

723 
FZAK51 PAFC 122311
CWFAER

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE ALASKA
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR THE NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA COAST
UP TO 100 NM OUT INCLUDING KODIAK ISLAND AND COOK INLET.

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.

PKZ197-131145-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST+KODIAK ISLAND WATERS+
COOK INLET...

A 983 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL MOVE INLAND 40 NM WEST OF SITKA 
AT 987 MB MON MORNING. A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE NORTH 
GULF COAST WILL GRADUALLY STRENGTHEN AND CONSOLIDATE INTO A 993 MB
LOW CENTER 130 NM SOUTHEAST OF MIDDLETON ISLAND BY TUE AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ119-131145-
CAPE SUCKLING TO CAPE CLEARE-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 45 KT OUT OF THE COPPER RIVER
DELTA. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...NE WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 45 KT OUT OF THE COPPER RIVER
DELTA.  SEAS 6 FT.
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT OUT OF THE COPPER RIVER 
DELTA. SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.FRI...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT.

$$

PKZ120-131145-
CAPE CLEARE TO GORE POINT-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. GUSTS TO 35 KT OUT OF BAYS AND PASSES. SEAS
5 FT.
.MON...N WIND 20 KT. GUSTS TO 35 KT OUT OF BAYS AND PASSES. SEAS 6 
FT.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT OUT OF BAYS AND PASSES. 
SEAS 9 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.

$$

PKZ121-131145-
RESURRECTION BAY-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT AND MONDAY NIGHT...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND INCREASING TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING 
SPRAY AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.MON...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT.

$$

PKZ125-131145-
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND INCREASING TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 FT BUILDING TO 6 FT 
AFTER MIDNIGHT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT.

$$

PKZ126-131145-
PORT VALDEZ-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND INCREASING TO 30 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 6 FT. 
FREEZING SPRAY AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.FRI...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT.

$$

PKZ127-131145-
VALDEZ NARROWS-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND INCREASING TO 40 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 4 FT. 
FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 4 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 4 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.FRI...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 3 FT.

$$

PKZ128-131145-
VALDEZ ARM-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.FRI...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT.

$$

PKZ129-131145-
PASSAGE CANAL-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND INCREASING TO 25 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT NEAR WHITTIER.
SEAS 3 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...W WIND 20 KT. GUSTS TO 30 KT NEAR WHITTIER. SEAS 3 FT. 
FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT.
.WED THROUGH FRI...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT.

$$

PKZ130-131145-
WEST OF BARREN ISLANDS INCLUDING KAMISHAK BAY-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...GALE WARNING MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND INCREASING TO 30 KT...STRONGEST EAST OF AUGUSTINE
ISLAND. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...NW WIND 30 KT...STRONGEST EAST OF AUGUSTINE ISLAND. SEAS 8 
FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.WED THROUGH FRI...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.

$$

PKZ131-131145-
BARREN ISLANDS EAST-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 8 FT.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.WED THROUGH FRI...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT.

$$

PKZ132-131145-
MARMOT ISLAND TO SITKINAK-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT EXCEPT NW 30 KT N OF DANGEROUS CAPE. SEAS
7 FT.
.MON...NW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT.
.WED...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT.
.THU THROUGH FRI...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.

$$

PKZ136-131145-
CHINIAK BAY-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND INCREASING TO 25 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 4 FT. 
FREEZING SPRAY AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.MON...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE...N WIND 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT.
.FRI...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT.

$$

PKZ137-131145-
MARMOT BAY-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND INCREASING TO 25 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 4 FT. 
FREEZING SPRAY AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.MON...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 6 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.WED...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.
.FRI...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT.

$$

PKZ138-131145-
SHELIKOF STRAIT-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.WED...NW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT.
.THU THROUGH FRI...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT.

$$

PKZ139-131145-
COOK INLET KALGIN ISLAND TO POINT BEDE-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING MONDAY NIGHT...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT. FREEZING
SPRAY.
.MON...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 8 FT.
.WED THROUGH THU...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 5 FT.

$$

PKZ140-131145-
COOK INLET NORTH OF KALGIN ISLAND-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT.
.MON...N WIND 25 KT.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 30 KT.
.TUE AND TUE NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT.
.WED THROUGH THU...N WIND 15 KT.
.FRI...N WIND 10 KT.

$$

PKZ141-131145-
KACHEMAK BAY-
311 PM AKDT SUN MAR 12 2017

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.MON NIGHT...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.WED...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.THU THROUGH FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT.

$$

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Mar 12, 4:39 AM AKDT, 10 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
439 AM AKDT Sun Mar 12 2017

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
The stout blocking high over the western Bering Sea remains the
dominant weather feature over the region this morning, yielding
continued dry northerly flow and predominantly clear skies over
the Alaska mainland. A positively tilted longwave trough
extending from the Yukon into the north-central Pacific is
beginning to shift slightly westward into the gulf. This is
helping to strengthen a surface trough across the north gulf
coast and aiding a corresponding increase in gap winds through
some of the favored areas. Farther west, the Bering remains locked
in a benign marine stratus regime beneath the ridge.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
Guidance remains in good agreement through early in the week as
the blocking high remains over the Bering and a series of arctic
shortwaves moving over the top of the ridge helps to dig a deeper
trough over the mainland. Given the good synoptic agreement, the
morning package primarily utilized a higher resolution NAM-based
solution to better depict localized wind features.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...VFR conditions will persist through Monday morning. Winds
will begin to increase out of the north later this morning,
becoming gustier in the 03-06z timeframe and lasting into Monday
morning as a weak upper level disturbance moves out of the
interior.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
More wind is on the way to Southcentral. A surface low will move
into the eastern Gulf today leading to tightening pressure
gradients while an upper level low and inverted trough shift
westward into the eastern Copper River Basin, leading to
strengthening flow aloft to the west of the trough axis. With
abundant sunshine there should be no problem mixing out surface
inversions and allowing gusty winds to reach the surface across
most of the region beginning this afternoon or evening. With flow
continuing to strengthen tonight and colder air stacking up
against mountains in the Copper River Basin, expect winds to
keep going all night long. A series of short-waves will then drop
down from the Arctic Monday through Monday night, leading to
another round of cold air advection and even stronger winds for
many areas.

As the short-waves from the north reach Southcentral, the upper
low and trough over the Gulf and eastern portions of Southcentral
will be forced to lift northeastward into the Yukon. Light snow
showers may make it into the eastern Copper Basin and eastern
Prince William Sound region as it does so, but with persistent
dry northerly flow in the low levels, expect little or no
accumulation. Elsewhere, expect no more than some mid and high
clouds.

&&

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

Some fog developed over Nunivak Island and the Kuskokwim Delta
coast this morning in response to a very strong nocturnal
inversion and a bit of increased moisture. In addition, some snow
flurries have also been observed falling out of the low
stratus/fog. This will likely continue through the morning hours
until daytime mixing allows for the fog to mix out with copious
amounts of dry air aloft (as evident on the 12Z PABE RAOB). The
rest of Southwest Alaska will look to remain on the dry side as
high pressure, both at the surface and aloft, become further
entrenched across the region. Expect near normal temperatures
through the weekend before temperatures begin to drop toward the
beginning of next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2)...

A persistent Rex Block anchored over the Bering Sea will continue
to bring a period of docile weather throughout much of the region
through early next week. The high pressure over the western Bering
Sea will continue to stravage which may allow a few showers to
enter the coastal waters throughout the weekend. A decent shortwave
will round the eastern periphery of the upper level ridge in the
Bering Sea Monday afternoon through much of Tuesday. This will
help to enhance gap winds across the Alaska Peninsula and eastern
Aleutians with northerly gale force gusts possible through the
many gaps and passes across the aforementioned locations.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7...Tue through Sat)...
Models continue to advertise a slow and steady pattern change. The
ridge over the western Bering will go from being more of a
negative tilt (oriented northwest to southeast) to a more neutral
orientation (north to south) as we go through the week. This will
allow cold air to move from the Interior into the southern half of
AK helping to carve out a trough in the Gulf of AK. Then by next
weekend, the Bering ridge is almost completely eroded as a broad,
warm low approaches the western Aleutians.

The net effect from this will be calm conditions over much of the
Bering, while cold returns to southern AK with some snow threats.
Seas will remain relatively low and winds light really until a
warm front moves towards the central Bering by Fri. A few
shortwaves driving over the ridge and into Southwest AK will usher
in much colder air starting Tue. This cold air could also bring
the chance for some very light snow, but not impressed with any
feature at this time as the column will be very dry. It will also
lead to some gusty winds mixing down to the surface. For South
Central, models remain in good agreement that low pressure will
make its way into the Northern Gulf of AK. However, there are
subtle differences in exactly how far north and west the moisture
makes it. For now, still looks like best snow chances stay along
the Gulf Coast. But we will monitor closely for any trends if the
low were to track further west towards the colder air. The GFS did
come in with a much stronger low near Southeast AK on Wed, but
since it was a big outlier, we did not incorporate this solution.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...None
MARINE...Gale Warning 126 127 131 132

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...CB
AVIATION...CB
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...SEB
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING  SEA/ALEUTIANS...MMC
LONG TERM...MO

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2017Every gale warning in 2017

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