Small Craft Advisory 892, NWS Anchorage, AK

076 
FZAK51 PAFC 231254
CWFAER

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 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.

PKZ197-240200-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST+KODIAK ISLAND WATERS+
COOK INLET...

A 985 mb low 70 nm east of Kodiak City will move to 275 nm
southeast of Middleton Island at 972 mb by Fri morning, then it 
will move to 300 nm southeast of Middleton Island at 983 mb by 
Sat morning. A front enters the western Gulf Fri morning extending
southward through Sat.

$$

PKZ119-240200-
Cape Suckling to Cape Cleare-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Rain showers.
.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Gusts to 55 kt out of the Copper River
Delta. Seas 10 ft.
.FRI...N wind 35 kt. Gusts to 55 kt out of the Copper River
Delta. Seas 10 ft. Rain showers.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 15 ft.

$$

PKZ120-240200-
Cape Cleare to Gore Point-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind increasing to 30 kt. Seas building to 8 ft.
.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt increasing to 40 kt after midnight. 
Seas 10 ft.
.FRI...N wind 40 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN...E wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...E wind 20 kt. Seas 16 ft.

$$

PKZ121-240200-
Resurrection Bay-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...N wind 25 kt increasing to 35 kt after midnight. 
Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...N wind 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...N wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ125-240200-
Prince William Sound-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...N wind 35 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...E wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ126-240200-
Port Valdez-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ127-240200-
Valdez Narrows-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...NE wind 45 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ128-240200-
Valdez Arm-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ129-240200-
Passage Canal-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...Variable wind less than 10 kt becoming W 15 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 2 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...W wind 25 kt. Gusts to 45 kt near Whittier. Seas 4 ft. 
Freezing spray.
.FRI...W wind 25 kt. Gusts to 45 kt near Whittier. Seas 4 ft. 
Freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...W wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SAT...W wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN...W wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ130-240200-
West of Barren Islands including Kamishak Bay-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 45 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...NW wind 45 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ131-240200-
Barren Islands East-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...N wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain showers.
.TONIGHT...N wind 45 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.FRI...NW wind 45 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 40 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SAT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft.

$$

PKZ132-240200-
Marmot Island to Sitkinak-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TONIGHT...N wind 45 kt. Seas 18 ft.
.FRI...NW wind 45 kt. Seas 18 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 45 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SAT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...S wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ136-240200-
Chiniak Bay-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 15 kt becoming N wind 25 kt. Seas 2 ft building to 
4 ft in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ137-240200-
Marmot Bay-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 15 kt becoming N 25 kt in the afternoon. 
Seas 2 ft building to 4 ft in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SAT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ138-240200-
Shelikof Strait-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 25 kt becoming NE 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 6 ft
building to 9 ft in the afternoon. Snow showers and rain showers.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...E wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ139-240200-
Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...N wind 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ140-240200-
Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...N wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.MON...N wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ141-240200-
Kachemak Bay-
354 AM AKST Thu Nov 23 2017

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 20 kt...strongest near the outer waters. 
Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt...strongest near the outer waters. 
Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...N wind 30 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
527 AM AKST Wed Nov 22 2017

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
The next incoming surface low is rapidly deepening as it crosses
the 180 degree longitude line and speeds to the northeast across
the Bering. The associated rather strong warm/occluding front is
pushing across the Pribilof Islands early this morning with the
trailing cold front moving into the central Aleutians. Further to
the east, a shearing apart upper level trough is tracking east
across southcentral Alaska while a transient ridge builds in
behind it.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
Model agreement continues to improve with regards to the strong
low tracking towards Nunivak Island this afternoon/evening,
increasing confidence in the various high wind and winter weather
impacts expected across Southwest Alaska, the eastern Bering and
Alaska Peninsula. Additionally there is good agreement with the
trough and surface low rotating into the Gulf of Alaska Wednesday
night and Thursday and the resulting increasing offshore flow.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...While there are a few patchy low clouds drifting around this
morning VFR conditions are expected to prevail.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 2)...

A sharp shortwave trough is moving through the area this morning.
This feature is dragging cold air with it (12z Anchorage UA
sounding shows -12C 850 hpa temperatures) and is pushing this cold
air through the gaps along the North Gulf Coast. Winds will peak
midday then begin to weaken as the pressure gradient weakens with
the eastward progression of the trough. Light snow today will
mainly be over the Alaska Range, Talkeetna Mountains, and Wrangell
Mountains, but some light snow will continue across the Copper
Basin.

Attention quickly turns to a fast moving front which will move
into the Gulf of Alaska, bringing a quick shot of accumulating
snow to western Kodiak Island before turning to a mix of rain and
snow. The front will reach the southern Kenai Peninsula tonight,
bringing accumulating snow to the area through morning before the
main low tracks south. Temperatures aloft will be quite cold, so
offshore winds look to really ramp up Thursday night into Friday.
The Matanuska Valley, Thompson Pass, Valdez, Kodiak, Copper
Delta, etc. will all blow hard as a reinforcing upper trough digs
in.

&&

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

The forecast remains largely on track with few changes made this
forecast package. A strong area of low pressure will reach Kipnuk
around midnight tonight, before dropping southeast into Bristol
Bay. An attendant cold front will sweep westward across the
Bering through the afternoon before reaching the coast of
southwest Alaska around sunset. Widespread precipitation will
develop along the front.

Taking a closer look at the model data, widespread snow will
develop ahead of the front with periods of moderate to heavy
snowfall likely. The front will eventually stall near a Bethel to
King Salmon line. Where this front stalls is important as warmer
air will push inland following frontal passage for a few hours,
before colder air advects into the region from the northwest as
the low moves along the coast. This has impacts on how much
snowfall will be seen near the coast, as a slower frontal
progression could allow for mesoscale banding to develop in the
precipitation, thus putting out higher snowfall totals. This is
something we'll keep an eye on as the system evolves.

Otherwise, look for snow to change to a rain/snow mix along the
coast, with perhaps some of the western most portions of the coast
briefly seeing all rain. Snowfall accumulations look similar to
the previous forecast package. Strong southerly winds ahead of the
front may also bring some coastal flood concerns, and the
previous headlines for this were unchanged as the models remain
consistent with this potential. Drier air will advect into the
region by Thursday night. However, gusty northwest winds will keep
blowing snow concerns in our picture.

&&

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

Abrupt changes are coming over the next 24 hours as a strong cold
front sweeps eastward from the west central Aleutians this
morning to eastern portions of the AKPEN tonight. Look for
widespread precipitation to develop along the front before
northwesterly winds move in behind the front. These winds will
rapidly increase in strength with some hurricane force gusts
likely. Only minor temporal changes were made to the headlines for
the Pribilof Islands, while upgrading the watch to a warning for
zone 181 along the peninsula while adjusting the timing for both
locations. The winds will gradually diminish for all areas from
west to east for the Bering and the Aleutian chain by Friday
morning.

&&

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

Beginning the extended period forecast on Friday, there will be a
longwave trough over the state of Alaska, extending into the Gulf
of Alaska, with a transient ridge over the Bering Sea. Deep cold
air and a strong offshore pressure gradient over Southcentral will
continue a strong gap wind event over that region. Otherwise, most
of Southern Alaska will be dry, and rather cold, through Saturday
night into Sunday.

The forecast quickly becomes complicated as a large and very cold
trough over Eastern Siberia pinwheels a series of shortwaves into
the Bering Sea for the weekend. The first of these looks to
develops over the Bering late Saturday into Sunday then move a
front into Southwest Alaska sometime on Sunday. This will bring a
mix of rain and snow threats to Southwest before the energy moves
into the Gulf of Alaska Sunday night through Tuesday. Meanwhile, a
series of powerful lows looks poised to move through the western
Bering Sea and North Pacific along the Aleutian Chain, but huge
uncertainty develops from Monday onward. It does seem the net
effect of this pattern shift, alluded to in all the global model
guidance, is that the deep northerly flow and cold pattern over
the state will wane (at least for Southern Alaska) Monday through
midweek.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...High Wind Warning 181 195.
         Coastal Flood Advisory 155 161.
         Winter Weather Advisory 155 161.
MARINE...Gale 120 127 130-132 150 160 173-178 351 352 411
         Storm 155 165 170 171 172 179 180 181 185 412-414.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...JR
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...Ahsenmacher
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...P Doll
LONG TERM...Ahsenmacher