Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2017

Gale Warning 56, NWS Juneau, AK

February 2, 2017

NWS Juneau, AK issued this gale warning at Feb 2, 2017, 3:12 AM AKST. It was in force for 48 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 2, 2017, 3:12 AM AKST (12:12 UTC)
Expired
Feb 4, 2017, 3:25 AM AKST
In force
48 hr
Issued by
NWS Juneau, AK

The text

As transmitted.

242 
FZAK67 PAJK 021212
OFFAJK

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
312 AM AKST THU FEB 2 2017

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA EAST OF 144W

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ398-030615-
312 AM AKST THU FEB 2 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL STRENGTHEN OVER NW CANADA AND REMAIN STRONG
THROUGH SATURDAY. THIS WILL INCREASE NORTHERLY WINDS OVER THE
PANHANDLE AND GULF.  

$$

PKZ310-030615-
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST-
312 AM AKST THU FEB 2 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. W SWELL EARLY IN THE MORNING. 
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.FRI...NE GALE TO 40 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...NE GALE TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.MON...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 

$$
4 follow-up statements
997 
FZAK67 PAJK 030022
OFFAJK

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
322 PM AKST THU FEB 2 2017

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA EAST OF 144W

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ398-031830-
322 PM AKST THU FEB 2 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER NW CANADA THROUGH SATURDAY WHILE
LOW PRESSURE APPROACHES TO THE DISTANT SOUTH. THIS WILL CONTINUE
NORTHERLY WINDS OVER THE PANHANDLE AND GULF.  

$$

PKZ310-031830-
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST-
322 PM AKST THU FEB 2 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND INCREASING TO 35 KT IN THE EVENING. SEAS
BUILDING TO 11 FT.
.FRI...NE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 12 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SAT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT IN THE EVENING THEN
SUBSIDING. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 
.MON...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 
.TUE...WIND VARIABLE LESS THAN 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 

$$
911 
FZAK67 PAJK 031212
OFFAJK

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
312 AM AKST FRI FEB 3 2017

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA EAST OF 144W

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ398-040615-
312 AM AKST FRI FEB 3 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER NW CANADA THROUGH SATURDAY. THIS
WILL CONTINUE NORTHERLY WINDS OVER THE PANHANDLE AND GULF.  

$$

PKZ310-040615-
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST-
312 AM AKST FRI FEB 3 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SAT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT IN THE EVENING THEN
SUBSIDING. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 
.MON...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 
.TUE...WIND VARIABLE LESS THAN 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 

$$
872 
FZAK67 PAJK 040031
OFFAJK

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
331 PM AKST FRI FEB 3 2017

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA EAST OF 144W

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ398-041845-
331 PM AKST FRI FEB 3 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
HIGH PRESSURE IN THE SOUTHERN YUKON WILL WEAKEN THROUGH SATURDAY
NIGHT. NORTHERLY OUTFLOW OVER THE PANHANDLE WILL GRADUALLY
WEAKEN THROUGH SATURDAY.  

$$

PKZ310-041845-
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST-
331 PM AKST FRI FEB 3 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HIGHEST WINDS AND SEAS E OF
140 W.
.SAT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. SW SWELL IN THE
EVENING. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT IN THE MORNING BECOMING VARIABLE LESS
THAN 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 
.SUN NIGHT...WINDS LIGHT INCREASING TO NE 15 KT LATE. SEAS
6 FT OR LESS. 
.MON...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 
.TUE...WIND VARIABLE LESS THAN 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 
.WED...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 

$$
587 
FZAK67 PAJK 041225
OFFAJK

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
325 AM AKST SAT FEB 4 2017

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR GULF OF ALASKA EAST OF 144W

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WINDWAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ398-050630-
325 AM AKST SAT FEB 4 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
HIGH PRESSURE IN THE SOUTHERN YUKON WILL WEAKEN THROUGH SUNDAY.
NORTHERLY OUTFLOW OVER THE PANHANDLE WILL GRADUALLY WEAKEN
THROUGH SUNDAY.  

$$

PKZ310-050630-
GULF OF ALASKA NORTH OF 55 DEGREES NORTH AND EAST OF 144 DEGREES
WEST-
325 AM AKST SAT FEB 4 2017

.TODAY...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HIGHEST WINDS AND SEAS E OF
140 W. SW SWELL IN THE MORNING SHIFTING TO THE E. 
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HIGHEST WINDS AND SEAS E OF
140 W. E SWELL IN THE EVENING. 
.SUN...NE WIND 15 KT IN THE MORNING BECOMING VARIABLE LESS
THAN 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT IN THE MORNING THEN SUBSIDING. 
.SUN NIGHT...WIND VARIABLE LESS THAN 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS.
.MON...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 
.TUE...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 
.WED...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT OR LESS. 

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this gale warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Feb 1, 4:03 PM AKST, 11 hours 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 1, 4:03 PM AKST, 11 hours 9 minutes before
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
403 PM AKST Wed Feb 1 2017

.SHORT TERM...An upper level ridge of high pressure is the driving
force for high clouds across the region today. Most places this
cirrus is thin enough for sunshine to get through for a partly
cloudy feel, while the far northern panhandle is a little
thicker, but still a fair weather day. At the surface an inverted
trough has formed along the inner channels while high pressure
builds of the Yukon. Both of these features will strengthen over
the next 24+ hours for a tighter northerly pressure gradient.
Winds have picked up a few hours earlier than expected through
northern Lynn Canal. Skagway has already gusted to 40mph this
afternoon and expect that to continue or increase slightly
tomorrow. By late tonight downtown Juneau will likely have gusts
to 40mph and 60mph gusts are possible tomorrow afternoon. A
similar increasing trend can be expected through the inside waters
with higher gusts out of interior passes and nearby land areas.

Increased wind speeds through tomorrow and extended them further
south through the inside waters based on the increased trend we've
already seen. Used high-res models to bump those up, then adjusted
gusts up further for select locations.

Other big change was to adjust max/min temperatures down. CAA is
already starting and will be stronger tomorrow. Don't expect too
much heating from the short number of daylight hours. Went below
MOS guidance and used more of what we've seen today for starting
values then adjusted wind sheltered locations down and windy spots
up to have about a 10 degree difference for lows. Forecast
confidence is above average.

.LONG TERM...Strong cold air outflow remains the primary concern
for the long range period. Gale force winds expected in many of
the northern inner channels and northern gulf starting Thu night
and continuing into the weekend. Some areas of min storm force are
also possible particularly for Lynn Canal and out of Cross Sound.
Another Taku wind event is also possible for the downtown Juneau
and Douglas areas starting Thu night and continuing into Sat.
Cross barrier flow will be increasing to around 60 to 70 kt with a
noticeable inversion present from the cold air streaming into the
area. The critical level is a little questionable due to the
absence of directional shear aloft. However, there is a level of
speed shear (lower speeds) at around 600 to 700 mb that should be
enough of a critical level to produce the mountain wave. High wind
watch continues for the Juneau area from late Thursday afternoon
to Saturday afternoon.

Into early next week the outflow winds will be diminishing but the
dry weather will persist. The blocking upper ridge to our west
will be retrograding on Monday while a cut off upper low will sit
SW of Haida Gwaii. The panhandle will be stuck under offshore flow
into at least mid week. At that point a trough from the north and
a ridge from the south will reestablish onshore flow over the
area. the question is whether this pattern shift will be enough to
draw a front north into the panhandle by late next week. For now
forecast confidence is rather low so kept chance pops and mostly
cloudy skies for the mid to late next week period.

&&

.AJK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
PUBLIC...High Wind Watch from Thursday afternoon through Saturday
     afternoon for AKZ025.
     Strong Wind from late tonight through Thursday afternoon for
     AKZ025.
     Strong Wind from Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon for
     AKZ022.
     Strong Wind through Thursday afternoon for AKZ018.
MARINE...Gale Warning for PKZ012-022-043-051.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ011-013-021-031>034-042.
     Small Craft Advisory due to Seas for PKZ041.
&&

Ferrin/EAL

Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau

The office that day

Everything else NWS Juneau, AK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 1, 3:02 PM AKSTGale WarningAJK3 days
Feb 1, 3:02 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK3 days
Feb 1, 3:03 PM AKSTGale WarningAJK60 hr
Feb 1, 9:45 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK29 hr
Feb 2, 3:12 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK60 hr
Feb 2, 3:12 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK12 hr
Feb 2, 3:12 AM AKSTStorm WarningAJK24 hr
Feb 2, 3:13 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK48 hr
Feb 2, 3:13 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK12 hr
Feb 2, 4:10 AM AKSTHigh Wind WarningAJK17 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2017Every gale warning in 2017

Sources

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