Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2017

Gale Warning 73, NWS Juneau, AK

February 12, 2017

NWS Juneau, AK issued this gale warning at Feb 12, 2017, 4:12 AM AKST. It was in force for 56 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 12, 2017, 4:12 AM AKST (13:12 UTC)
Expired
Feb 14, 2017, 12:25 PM AKST
In force
56 hr
Issued by
NWS Juneau, AK

The text

As transmitted.

225 
FZAK53 PAJK 121312
CWFYAK

MARINE FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
412 AM AKST SUN FEB 12 2017

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY

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.

PKZ053-130715-
YAKUTAT BAY-
412 AM AKST SUN FEB 12 2017

...GALE WARNING LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...W WIND 15 KT BECOMING NE. SEAS 12 FT...EXCEPT 4 FT EAST
SIDE OF THE BAY. S SWELL. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT LATE. SEAS 10 FT
BUILDING TO 15 FT LATE. EAST SIDE OF THE BAY, SEAS 5 FT. RAIN AND
SNOW. 
.MON...E GALE TO 35 KT. GUSTS TO 50 KT. SEAS 12 FT...EXCEPT 7 FT 
EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 19 FT...EXCEPT 5 FT EAST SIDE
OF THE BAY. S SWELL. RAIN.
.TUE...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.WED...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 

$$
6 follow-up statements
462 
FZAK53 PAJK 130005
CWFYAK

MARINE FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
305 PM AKST SUN FEB 12 2017

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY

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.

PKZ053-131815-
YAKUTAT BAY-
305 PM AKST SUN FEB 12 2017

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT LATE. GUSTS TO 50 KT 
LATE, SEAS 11 FT BUILDING TO 15 FT LATE. EAST SIDE OF THE BAY, 
SEAS 6 FT. S SWELL IN THE EVENING. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.MON...E WIND 35 KT. GUSTS TO 50 KT. SEAS 18 FT...EXCEPT 7 FT 
EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. RAIN.
.MON NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 19 FT...EXCEPT SEAS 2 FT OR
LESS EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. S SWELL. RAIN.
.TUE...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 17 FT...EXCEPT SEAS 2 FT OR LESS
EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. S SWELL. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 14 FT...EXCEPT SEAS 2 FT OR
LESS EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. S SWELL. RAIN.
.WED...NE WIND 15 KT BECOMING SE. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$
363 
FZAK53 PAJK 131245
CWFYAK

MARINE FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
345 AM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY

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.

PKZ053-140645-
YAKUTAT BAY-
345 AM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

...GALE WARNING THIS MORNING AND THIS EVENING...

.TODAY...SE WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
GUSTS TO 50 KT. SEAS 17 FT...EXCEPT 7 FT EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. 
RAIN.
.TONIGHT...E WIND 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT LATE. GUSTS TO
55 KT. SEAS 21 FT...EXCEPT 7 FT EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. RAIN.
.TUE...E WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 45 KT LATE. SEAS 18 FT...EXCEPT 4 
FT EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. SE SWELL. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 13 FT...EXCEPT 3 FT EAST SIDE
OF THE BAY. SE SWELL. RAIN.
.WED...E WIND 15 KT BECOMING S. SEAS 10 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$
689 
FZAK53 PAJK 140029
CWFYAK

MARINE FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
329 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY

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.

PKZ053-141830-
YAKUTAT BAY-
329 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT BECOMING E 40 KT IN THE EVENING, THEN
DIMINISHING TO 30 KT LATE. SEAS 20 FT...EXCEPT 7 FT EAST SIDE OF 
THE BAY. RAIN.
.TUE...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT...EXCEPT 4 FT EAST SIDE OF
THE BAY. SE SWELL. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT...EXCEPT 3 FT EAST
SIDE OF THE BAY. SE SWELL. RAIN.
.WED...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 11 FT...EXCEPT 3 FT EAST SIDE OF
THE BAY. SE SWELL. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT...EXCEPT 3 FT EAST
SIDE OF THE BAY. S SWELL. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.THU...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 

$$
783 
FZAK53 PAJK 140330 AAA
CWFYAK

MARINE FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
630 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY

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.

PKZ053-142130-
YAKUTAT BAY-
630 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

UPDATED

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 45 KT. GUSTS TO 60 KT. SEAS 21 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...E WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
GUSTS TO 50 KT IN THE MORNING. SEAS 18 FT...EXCEPT 4 FT EAST SIDE
OF THE BAY. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT...EXCEPT 3 FT EAST
SIDE OF THE BAY. SE SWELL. RAIN.
.WED...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 11 FT...EXCEPT 3 FT EAST SIDE OF
THE BAY. SE SWELL. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT...EXCEPT 3 FT EAST
SIDE OF THE BAY. S SWELL. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.THU...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 



$$
966 
FZAK53 PAJK 141248
CWFYAK

MARINE FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
348 AM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY

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.

PKZ053-150700-
YAKUTAT BAY-
348 AM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THIS MORNING...

.TODAY...E WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 15 KT BY LATE AFTERNOON. 
GUSTS TO 55 KT EARLY IN THE MORNING. SEAS 20 FT...EXCEPT 6 FT EAST
SIDE OF THE BAY. S SWELL. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...NE WIND INCREASING TO 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT...EXCEPT 4 FT 
EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. S SWELL. RAIN.
.WED...NE WIND 20 KT BECOMING SW IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
12 FT. S SWELL. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...SE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 9 FT. S SWELL. RAIN
SHOWERS. 
.THU...E WIND 10 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 

$$
128 
FZAK53 PAJK 142125 AAA
CWFYAK

MARINE FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
1225 PM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR YAKUTAT BAY

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.

PKZ053-150130-
YAKUTAT BAY-
1225 PM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.REST OF TODAY...E WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 35 KT. SEAS 20 
FT...EXCEPT 6 FT EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. S SWELL. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...NE WIND TO 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT...EXCEPT 4 FT EAST SIDE 
OF THE BAY. S SWELL. RAIN.
.WED...NE WIND 20 KT BECOMING SW IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 12 FT. S 
SWELL. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...SE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 9 FT. S SWELL. RAIN SHOWERS. 
.THU...E WIND 10 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 



$$

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 11, 3:55 PM AKST, 12 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 11, 3:55 PM AKST, 12 hours 17 minutes before
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
355 PM AKST Sat Feb 11 2017

.SHORT TERM...Very active weather day across the area as a
powerful and wet low moves through the gulf. First off is the
wind. Several areas have been very windy this afternoon with
observed gusts reaching 60 mph at Skagway, Juneau, and Sitka so
far. Just about every other place has gusted to 30 to 50 mph this
afternoon and places in the southern outer coast and panhandle
are expected to have gusts increase through the evening as a
strong front moves through. High wind warnings remain up for
zones 18, 25, 23, 26, 27, and 28 through tonight as a result and
strong wind headlines are up for just about everywhere else
tonight. As for marine areas, wide spread gales are the norm this
evening with some storm force winds here and there. These winds
are expected to diminish late tonight and tomorrow as the front
that is generating them slowly moves off to the east.

The other concern is the precip. Strong warm air advection has
caused many areas to see rain today. There are exceptions though.
Haines and the Haines Highway are still snowing even through they
have a robust east wind at the moment. Around 4 to 8 inches of
snow has been reported in that area today. This is likely a result
of the heavy precip rates that moved into the area and they will
likely remain snow or at least a rain/snow mix through around 10
pm before precip rates drop off. That should allow the ptype to
transition to all rain. Expect another 4 to 8 inches of snow there
before that happens though. Winter storm warning issued as a
result.

Hyder is the other low elevation exception. They have been snowing
all day and reported upwards of 8.5 inches this morning with a
snow to liquid ratio of around 20 to 1. Decided to extend the
winter storm warning there until noon Sun as it looks like it will
take a little longer for the heavier precip to get out of there.

White Pass it the Third exception. Webcam images have continued to
show widespread blowing snow and very low visibilities there. A
blizzard warning remain in effect for that area.

Heaviest precip is expected this evening for the northern
panhandle and through tonight and early tomorrow for the southern
panhandle. We get a break for tomorrow as the front moves off to
the east. There still will be showers around through most of them
will be in the form of rain despite the weak cold air advection
that is coming through in the wake of the front. Yakutat will
likely see snow again late tonight and tomorrow with low
accumulations. The rest of the panhandle will likely remain rain
for low elevations as the southerly flow should overwhelm the
cold advection and keep temps warm enough for rain.

Main changes today were for local effect for ptype and also for
wind. Mainly used nam/gfs for guidance today.

.LONG TERM...Active weather pattern continues through the week
as more system move into the AK gulf. 300 mb SW jet aiming at the
panhandle until Wed then shifts to the south with much weaker flow
toward the weekend. The surface systems will track up from the N
Pacific with warm SW flow at mid levels. At 500 mb a low drops SW
over the AK interior then become quasi stationary over the
Aleutians by early Tuesday and lasting into about Thursday.
Toward the weekend weaker mid level pattern with potential for a
drier and cooler period of weather.

Next gale force front moves into the western AK gulf Sunday night
with more rain and only a mix of snow at higher elevations. Once
again long fetch of moisture resulting in high QPF amounts with
potential snow accumulation at higher elevations. Parent low at
the surface remains over the Aleutians moving frontal bands
eastward. For Wednesday large model spread on development of a low
along the next frontal band in the central gulf. GFS develops a
storm force system while NAM/Canadian/ECMWF have only gale force.
As the 500 mb low leaves the Aleutians the surface low begins to
track to the NE with diminishing winds and pop. Cooler airmass at
850 mb moves in from the west at this time so started to lower
forecast temps late in the week.

Used a blend of NAM/Canadian as they have been more consistent
run to run and were mostly in line with previous forecast. ECMWF
has been shifting position of the mid week low each run and GFS is
the outlier with the storm force. Updated later periods with
ensemble WPC. Forecast confidence is below average.

&&

.AJK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
PUBLIC...High Wind Warning until midnight AKST tonight for AKZ026.
     High Wind Warning until 3 AM AKST Sunday for AKZ027.
     Strong Wind until 9 PM AKST this evening for AKZ017-020>022-024.
     High Wind Warning until 9 PM AKST this evening for AKZ023-025.
     High Wind Warning until 3 AM AKST Sunday for AKZ028.
     Winter Storm Warning until noon AKST Sunday for AKZ029.
     Winter Storm Warning until midnight AKST tonight for AKZ019.
     High Wind Warning until 6 AM AKST Sunday for AKZ018.
     Blizzard Warning until 6 AM AKST Sunday for AKZ018.
MARINE...Storm Warning for PKZ036-041>043.
     Gale Warning for PKZ011>013-021-022-031>035-051-052.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ053.
&&

EAL/PRB

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 12, 3:25 AM AKST, 47 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
325 AM AKST SUN FEB 12 2017

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

0430 PM     BLIZZARD         15 NE SKAGWAY           59.63N 135.03W
02/11/2017                   XXX                XX   OTHER FEDERAL

            BLIZZARD CONDITIONS NEAR WHITE PASS, AND ROAD CLOSED
            THROUGH PASS CLOSED DUE TO POTENTIAL AVALANCHE CONCERNS

0430 PM     HEAVY SNOW       6 S HAINES              59.15N 135.44W
02/11/2017  M16.0 INCH       PKZ012             AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TOTAL SNOW FOR THE EVENT.

0900 PM     HEAVY SNOW       HAINES                  59.24N 135.44W
02/11/2017  M7.7 INCH                           AK   CO-OP OBSERVER

            7.7 INCHES OF SNOW 8 AM TO 9 PM. TOTAL STORM EVENT 13.9

0100 AM     HEAVY RAIN       SITKA                   57.05N 135.34W
02/12/2017  M3.39 INCH                          AK   ASOS

            3.39 INCHES IS A NEW DAILY RAINFALL RECORD

0100 AM     HEAVY RAIN       JUNEAU                  58.30N 134.41W
02/12/2017  M2.28 INCH                          AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            2.28 INCHES AT NWS FORECAST OFFICE, DAILY PRECIP TOTAL

0100 AM     HEAVY RAIN       JUNEAU                  58.30N 134.41W
02/12/2017  M1.86 INCH                          AK   ASOS

            1.86 INCHES IS A NEW DAILY RECORD

&&

BMB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 11, 3:13 PM AKSTGale WarningAJK37 hr
Feb 11, 4:20 PM AKSTStorm WarningAJK12 hr
Feb 12, 4:11 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK24 hr
Feb 12, 4:15 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK24 hr
Feb 12, 4:29 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK4 hr
Feb 12, 4:29 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK56 hr
Feb 12, 5:18 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAJK19 hr
Feb 12, 8:56 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK6 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.