Gale Warning 692, NWS Anchorage, AK

933 
FZAK62 PAFC 240009
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
309 PM AKST Sat Dec 23 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.

PKZ499-241400-
309 PM AKST Sat Dec 23 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 987 mb low at 55N 158W weakens and moves inland by Sun
afternoon. A 1010 mb low at 51N 173E moves to 52N 178E at 1008 mb
by Sun afternoon and then to 51N 175W at 1014 mb by Mon afternoon.

$$

PKZ411-241400-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
309 PM AKST Sat Dec 23 2017

.TONIGHT...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.
.MON...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.MON NIGHT...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.TUE...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.

$$

PKZ412-241400-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
309 PM AKST Sat Dec 23 2017

.TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.SUN...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.MON...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.

$$

PKZ413-241400-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
309 PM AKST Sat Dec 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W wind 10 to 25 kt increasing to 20 to 35 kt after
midnight. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.SUN...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind up to 15 kt becoming N 10 to 25 kt after
midnight. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.MON...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.

$$

PKZ414-241400-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
309 PM AKST Sat Dec 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.SUN...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft.
.MON...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

232 
FZAK62 PAFC 241301
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
401 AM AKST Sun Dec 24 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.

PKZ499-250215-
401 AM AKST Sun Dec 24 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 994 mb low at 56N 158W trails a front across the Gulf of Alaska
through Tue morning. A 994 mb low near 58N 175E moves into the 
Gulf of Anadyr at 1028 mb by Tue morning. A 1007 mb low at 51N 
174E swings to 57N 176W at 1019 mb for Tue morning. The associated
front slides into the Western Bering through Tue morning.

$$

PKZ411-250215-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
401 AM AKST Sun Dec 24 2017

.TODAY...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON NIGHT...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.THU...E wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft.

$$

PKZ412-250215-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
401 AM AKST Sun Dec 24 2017

.TODAY...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.TONIGHT...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.MON...S wind up to 20 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Seas 5 to
10 ft. Snow.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.

$$

PKZ413-250215-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
401 AM AKST Sun Dec 24 2017

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Snow.
.TONIGHT...SW wind up to 15 kt becoming SE 10 to 25 kt after
midnight. Seas 5 to 10 ft. Snow.
.MON...NW wind 20 to 35 kt except SE 20 kt E of 175W. Seas 8 to 13 
ft. Snow and rain.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.THU...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.

$$

PKZ414-250215-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
401 AM AKST Sun Dec 24 2017

.TODAY...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.TONIGHT...W wind up to 20 kt diminishing to up to 10 kt after
midnight. Seas 5 to 9 ft.
.MON...W wind up to 10 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas 4 to
8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.

$$

762 
FZAK62 PAFC 250016
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
316 PM AKST Sun Dec 24 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.

PKZ499-251415-
316 PM AKST Sun Dec 24 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 1003 mb low at 57N 156W will move inland and dissipate tonight.
A 1006 mb low at 53N 178E will move to 55N 176W at 1015 mb by Mon
afternoon then will remain stationary and dissipate by Tue
afternoon.

$$

PKZ411-251415-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
316 PM AKST Sun Dec 24 2017

.TONIGHT...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.TUE...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.WED...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.THU THROUGH FRI...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft.

$$

PKZ412-251415-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
316 PM AKST Sun Dec 24 2017

.TONIGHT...SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.MON...S wind up to 25 kt becoming NW 10 to 25 kt west of 175W in 
the afternoon. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt except SE 30 kt east of 175W. Seas 7
to 12 ft.
.TUE...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft.

$$

PKZ413-251415-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
316 PM AKST Sun Dec 24 2017

...GALE WARNING MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...West of 175W...W wind 20 kt becoming NW 15 to 30 kt after
midnight. East of 175W...W wind 20 kt becoming S wind 25 kt. Seas 6 
to 12 ft. Snow.
.MON...NW wind 25 to 40 kt except S 25 kt east of 175W. Seas 9 to 14
ft. Snow and rain.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.TUE...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.WED...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.THU THROUGH FRI...NE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft.

$$

PKZ414-251415-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
316 PM AKST Sun Dec 24 2017

.TONIGHT...W wind up to 20 kt becoming 10 kt after midnight. Seas
5 to 9 ft.
.MON...W wind up to 15 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas 4 to
7 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.TUE...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.

$$

442 
FZAK62 PAFC 251235
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
335 AM AKST Mon Dec 25 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.

PKZ499-260345-
335 AM AKST Mon Dec 25 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 1013 mb low at 55N 176W remains nearly stationary and 
dissipates for Wed morning. The associated front wraps over the 
Northwestern Bering through Wed morning. A front moves over the 
Western Aleutians for Wed morning.

$$

PKZ411-260345-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
335 AM AKST Mon Dec 25 2017

.TODAY...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind up to 15 kt becoming E after midnight. 
Seas 6 ft.
.TUE...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.WED...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.THU THROUGH FRI...NE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft.

$$

PKZ412-260345-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
335 AM AKST Mon Dec 25 2017

.TODAY...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 8 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.

$$

PKZ413-260345-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
335 AM AKST Mon Dec 25 2017

.TODAY...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.TONIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...NE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.

$$

PKZ414-260345-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
335 AM AKST Mon Dec 25 2017

.TODAY...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft.
.TUE...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.

$$

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
356 PM AKST Fri Dec 22 2017

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
The broad negatively tilted trough extending from eastern Russia
to over the NE Pacific continues. Embedded surface features are a
weakening low over the eastern Bering Sea and a developing low
center well south of the Alaska Peninsula. Strong easterly winds
continue across Bristol Bay and coastal Southwest Alaska. The
weakening front over Southwest Alaska brought rain to Bristol Bay
and showers to the Kuskokwim Delta this afternoon. Rain showers
were evident over the eastern Aleutians with snow showers over
the central and western Aleutians. Broad southeasterly flow over
the Gulf brought gusty easterly winds and rain to much of the
western Gulf. There were periods of moderate rain, associated
with a weather front occurred over Kodiak Island. Subsidence under
the upper ridge brought another day of stratus and fog to the
Copper River Basin. Elsewhere across Southcentral, cool
temperatures with high cloudiness continues.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
Model guidance overall is in general synoptic agreement. Surface
features differ some, but over all flow pattern is fairly similar.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist. Some wind
shear is expected with strong southeasterly winds aloft.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
A strong front along the western and southern Gulf remains nearly
stationary through Saturday afternoon with a secondary push re-
enforcing gusty winds and heavy rain as a closed low at the base
of the negatively tilted trough lifts north during this timeframe.
Meanwhile, Southcentral will largely be under the influence of a
ridge centered along the Alcan border which will bring a few gusts
across typical north to south channeled terrain with offshore
flow. Dry conditions persist across Southcentral through the
weekend with increasing chances for rain and snow along the
coastal areas as the front moves slowly toward Prince William
Sound and the Northeast gulf.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
More unsettled weather is on tap this forecast period. The latest
scatterometer data has gale force winds in Bristol Bay and the
Metars along the coast are also gusty but below NPW criteria.
King Salmon and Iliamna both recorded max temps in the 40s today.
Tonight much of Southwest can expect more above normal
temperatures with the best chance of precipitation near the coast.
Elsewhere, strong downsloping from the Aleutian Range and Kilbuck
Mountains will result in a rain shadow effect preventing rain
from reaching the lower elevations. A new low on Saturday is
projected to take a more southerly track and generally remain
south of the chain, but a tight pressure gradient will set up
again near the AKPEN. With the ridge to the east, this new low
will move very slowly and the gradient hangs on into Sunday.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2)...
The high amplitude pattern will continue...with cold air
advecting from the Western Aleutians towards the AKPEN. The
longwave trough is negatively tilted with multiple lows. The ridge
over the interior will remain steadfast this period essentially
keeping enhanced southerly flow over the Eastern Bering. The
first low is tracking near 60N and will continue to decay. The
next low is north of the AKPEN and will track northward and also
decay. The low that has been churning over the North Pacific will
close in on the Eastern Aleutians and AKPEN and bring gusty winds
into the domain but will be below NPW criteria. A pair of lows
will spin over the Western Bering one which will remain offshore
and the other will migrate from Attu to towards the Central
Aleutians. In addition to robust winds, the other sensible weather
highlight will be the potential for snow near Cold Bay.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7)...
Beginning the extended period forecast Sunday evening, there will
be a weakening upper trough lifting northward along the Gulf Coast
with a highly amplified upper ridge over the eastern part of
Alaska. Weak upper troughing will extend over Southwest Alaska and
the Bering Sea. Rain and snow along the Gulf Coast and over Kodiak
will continue but slowly diminish through Tuesday as the trough
moves inland and falls apart. By that time, high latitude
blocking in the vicinity of Eastern Siberia and the Beaufort Sea
will begin to exert a stronger influence on the pattern, and as
usual, this lends to lower confidence and higher variability with
the upper level wave pattern after Thursday. With that said,
surface high pressure will effectively "block" the storm track
away from Alaska and the Bering Sea, so the weather pattern looks
rather quiet and banal with seasonable temperatures and what looks
to be dry offshore flow for most of Southern Alaska by Tue-Thu.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...Storm Warning 130 131 155 172.
 Gale Warning 119 120 127 132 136>139 150 160 165 170 171 173 174
       177>181 185.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...RC
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...KH
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...PJS
LONG TERM...JA

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
300 AM AKST SAT DEC 23 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1159 PM     HEAVY SNOW       COLD BAY                55.22N 162.74W
12/22/2017  M12.9 INCH                          AK   ASOS

            12.9 INCHES AS OF MIDNIGHT. SNOW STILL FALLING.

&&

KUTZ