Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2017

Gale Warning 78, NWS Juneau, AK

February 13, 2017

NWS Juneau, AK issued this gale warning at Feb 13, 2017, 3:29 PM AKST. It was in force for 21 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 13, 2017, 3:29 PM AKST (00:29 UTC)
Expired
Feb 14, 2017, 12:16 PM AKST
In force
21 hr
Issued by
NWS Juneau, AK

The text

As transmitted.

305 
FZAK52 PAJK 140029
CWFAEG

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
329 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

SOUTHEAST ALASKA COASTAL WATERS FROM DIXON ENTRANCE TO
CAPE SUCKLING OUT 100 NM

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

PKZ099-141830-
329 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR OUTSIDE WATERS...
A STRONG FRONT MOVES OVER THE EASTERN GULF AS A LOW PRESSURE
WAVE MOVES N ALONG THE FRONT TONIGHT. THE FRONT WILL WEAKEN
THROUGH TUESDAY AS IT CONTINUES TO TRACK EAST. 

$$

PKZ041-141830-
DIXON ENTRANCE TO CAPE DECISION-
329 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

...STORM WARNING LATE TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT INCREASING TO 50 KT LATE. GUSTS TO 70 
KT LATE. SEAS 26 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 22 FT. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.WED...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 10 KT BECOMING E. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ042-141830-
CAPE DECISION TO CAPE EDGECUMBE-
329 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

...STORM WARNING THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT INCREASING TO 50 KT IN THE EVENING. 
GUSTS TO 70 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 27 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...SE WIND 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
GUSTS TO 55 KT. SEAS 23 FT. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SW SWELL IN THE
EVENING. RAIN.
.WED...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.THU...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 10 KT BECOMING E. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ043-141830-
CAPE EDGECUMBE TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER-
329 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

...STORM WARNING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 50 KT. GUSTS TO 75 KT. SEAS BUILDING TO 28 FT.
RAIN.
.TUE...SE WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
GUSTS TO 65 KT IN THE MORNING. SEAS 24 FT. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. S SWELL IN THE
EVENING. RAIN.
.WED...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 14 FT. SW SWELL. 
.THU...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ051-141830-
CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO ICY CAPE-
329 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

...STORM WARNING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 50 KT. GUSTS TO 75 KT. SEAS 28 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...SE WIND 45 KT BECOMING S 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS
TO 70 KT IN THE MORNING. SEAS 26 FT. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. S SWELL IN THE
EVENING. RAIN.
.WED...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 13 FT. S SWELL. RAIN AND
SNOW. 
.THU...E WIND 15 KT BECOMING S. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ052-141830-
ICY CAPE TO CAPE SUCKLING-
329 PM AKST MON FEB 13 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 40 KT. GUSTS TO 55 KT INCREASING TO 75 KT LATE.
SEAS 26 FT. RAIN.
.TUE...SE WIND 40 KT BECOMING S 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS
TO 65 KT IN THE MORNING. SEAS 25 FT. RAIN.
.TUE NIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. S SWELL. RAIN.
.WED...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. SW SWELL. RAIN AND
SNOW. 
.THU...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$
2 follow-up statements
056 
FZAK52 PAJK 141302
CWFAEG

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
402 AM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

SOUTHEAST ALASKA COASTAL WATERS FROM DIXON ENTRANCE TO
CAPE SUCKLING OUT 100 NM

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

PKZ099-150715-
402 AM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR OUTSIDE WATERS...
A STRONG FRONT OVER THE EASTERN GULF WILL MOVE INLAND ACROSS SE
AK AND WEAKEN SLOWLY TUE. A DEVELOPING LOW WILL MOVE N TO THE S
CENTRAL GULF TUE EVENING...THEN REACH THE PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
AREA WED MORNING. 

$$

PKZ041-150715-
DIXON ENTRANCE TO CAPE DECISION-
402 AM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...SE WIND 45 KT BECOMING S 35 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS
TO 65 KT EARLY IN THE MORNING. SEAS 24 FT SUBSIDING TO 19 FT IN
THE AFTERNOON. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SW SWELL.
RAIN.
.WED...SW WIND 20 KT BECOMING NW 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
14 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WIND INCREASING TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 10 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ042-150715-
CAPE DECISION TO CAPE EDGECUMBE-
402 AM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THIS MORNING...

.TODAY...SE WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
GUSTS TO 70 KT DECREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 23 FT. 
RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SW SWELL. 
RAIN.
.WED...SW WIND 25 KT BECOMING NW 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WIND INCREASING TO 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. S SWELL. 
.THU...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 10 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT BECOMING NE. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ043-150715-
CAPE EDGECUMBE TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER-
402 AM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THIS MORNING...

.TODAY...SE WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
GUSTS TO 70 KT DECREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 24 FT. 
RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 45 KT. SEAS 16 FT. S SWELL. 
RAIN.
.WED...SW WIND 30 KT BECOMING W 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. S SWELL. 
.THU...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ051-150715-
CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO ICY CAPE-
402 AM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

...STORM WARNING THROUGH EARLY THIS MORNING...

.TODAY...SE WIND 50 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
GUSTS TO 75 KT DECREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 29 FT 
SUBSIDING TO 21 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. S SWELL. RAIN.
.WED...SE WIND 30 KT BECOMING SW IN THE MORNING...THEN DIMINISHING
TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN IN THE MORNING. 
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 13 FT. S SWELL. 
.THU...SE WIND 15 KT BECOMING VARIABLE 10 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 

$$

PKZ052-150715-
ICY CAPE TO CAPE SUCKLING-
402 AM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THIS MORNING...

.TODAY...SE WIND 45 KT BECOMING S 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS 
TO 65 KT EARLY IN THE MORNING. SEAS 24 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND INCREASING TO 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. S SWELL. 
RAIN.
.WED..SE WIND 25 KT BECOMING W 30 KT IN THE MORNING...THEN 
BECOMING S 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN IN THE 
MORNING.
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. S SWELL. 
.THU...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 

$$
729 
FZAK52 PAJK 142116 AAA
CWFAEG

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
1216 PM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

SOUTHEAST ALASKA COASTAL WATERS FROM DIXON ENTRANCE TO
CAPE SUCKLING OUT 100 NM

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

PKZ099-150130-
1216 PM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017
.SYNOPSIS FOR OUTSIDE WATERS...
A DEVELOPING LOW WILL MOVE N TO THE S CENTRAL GULF TUE
EVENING...THEN REACH THE PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AREA WED MORNING. 

$$

PKZ041-150130-
DIXON ENTRANCE TO CAPE DECISION-
1216 PM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...SE WIND 30 KT BECOMING S IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS TO 45 
KT. SEAS 20 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SW SWELL.
RAIN.
.WED...SW WIND 20 KT BECOMING NW 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
14 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WIND INCREASING TO 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.THU...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 10 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 



$$

PKZ042-150130-
CAPE DECISION TO CAPE EDGECUMBE-
1216 PM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.REST OF TODAY...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. SW SWELL. 
RAIN.
.WED...SW WIND 25 KT BECOMING NW 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WIND INCREASING TO 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. S SWELL. 
.THU...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 10 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT BECOMING NE. SEAS 8 FT. 



$$

PKZ043-150130-
CAPE EDGECUMBE TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER-
1216 PM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.REST OF TODAY...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. GUSTS TO 45 KT. SEAS 16 FT. S SWELL. 
RAIN.
.WED...SW WIND 30 KT BECOMING W 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 15 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. S SWELL. 
.THU...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 



$$

PKZ051-150130-
CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO ICY CAPE-
1216 PM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.REST OF TODAY...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. S SWELL. RAIN.
.WED...SE WIND 30 KT BECOMING SW IN THE MORNING...THEN DIMINISHING
TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN IN THE MORNING. 
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 13 FT. S SWELL. 
.THU...SE WIND 15 KT BECOMING VARIABLE 10 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 



$$

PKZ052-150130-
ICY CAPE TO CAPE SUCKLING-
1216 PM AKST TUE FEB 14 2017

UPDATED

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.REST OF TODAY...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND INCREASING TO 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. S SWELL. 
RAIN.
.WED..SE WIND 25 KT BECOMING W 30 KT IN THE MORNING...THEN 
BECOMING S 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 15 FT. RAIN IN THE 
MORNING.
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. S SWELL. 
.THU...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 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 13, 6:19 AM AKST, 9 hours 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 13, 6:19 AM AKST, 9 hours 10 minutes before
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Juneau AK
619 AM AKST Mon Feb 13 2017

.SHORT TERM...A warm front over central SE AK will move NE of the
area by afternoon. A cold front over the central gulf will drift
slowly E to the eastern gulf while a low pressure wave develops
and moves N through the central gulf tonight. Models were fairly
close on the main features, and ended up using the 06z NAM to
handle most of the forecast through tonight.

Main forecast concerns will be winds, precip potential/amounts,
and snowfall at higher elevations over the far N. Strongest winds
are mostly over the gulf and along the outer coast attm. Gales are
occurring in most of those areas. As low pressure wave moves N,
winds will pick up to storm force over the E gulf by this evening.
Most inner channels will be high end SCA to gale force especially
tonight. Main exceptions to this will be N Lynn Canal, which
should see winds drop below SCA levels by late tonight as pressure
gradient becomes more parallel to them, and Glacier Bay, where it
appears that gradient flips enough to turn flow N and winds
diminish to around 15 kt. Have out strong wind headlines for much
of the coastal area and for the PAJN/PAKT areas.

Most of the area is getting rain with warm front although it is
more spotty over the central panhandle. Think the S will dry out
somewhat this afternoon and evening as flow becomes more SE. Rain
band with the cold front will press E and reach the outer coast
this evening. Heaviest rain should be over the NE gulf coast and N
panhandle nearest the low level jet. Rainfall could reach 2 inches
or more in these areas, especially along the NE gulf coast.

About only area expected to see snow will be along Klondike
Highway near White Pass. Snow will be getting wetter during the
morning as temps rise, and some rain may mix in this afternoon.
However, temps in the pass should cool off a bit tonight and allow
precip to become mainly snow again there. Thinking they could see
7 to 13 inches of snow there through 18z Tue, so extended the
winter weather advisory for zone 18 above 2000 feet to 18z Tue.

.LONG TERM...Main frontal band has the southern portion moving
east towards Haida Gwaii through Tuesday and Tuesday night and
this will move the band of winds closer to the Southeast coastal
areas. Flow pattern will become more Southeast over the southern
half of the panhandle. A strong low level jet will move north
through Hecate Strait and through Dixon Entrance and over the
southern half of Prince of Wales Island. Gusty winds of 40 to 50
mph are expected for the moment Tuesday in to Tuesday evening.

Models becoming more into agreement for the Wednesday wave that
looks to be moving north just West of Haida Gwaii island then past
the southern panhandle head over that region on Wednesday.

Rain increasing over the southern half of the panhandle with the
increasing rains from the wave moving north into the panhandle.

Models suggest ridging over the gulf for the end of the week that
will move the weak surface through that had been hanging around
the coastal waters inland and bring a brief break in precipitation.

Extended time range forecasts were not changed at the present
time, and modification to forecast package was with NAM/GFS.

&&

.AJK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
PUBLIC...Strong Wind through Tuesday afternoon for AKZ027.
     Strong Wind from noon AKST today through late tonight for AKZ025.
     Strong Wind from noon AKST today through Tuesday morning for
     AKZ022-023.
     Strong Wind from late tonight through Tuesday evening for AKZ028.
     Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM AKST Tuesday for AKZ018.
     Strong Wind through this evening for AKZ018.
     Strong Wind through this evening for AKZ017.
MARINE...Storm Warning for PKZ041>043-051-052.
     Gale Warning for PKZ022-034>036-053.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ011>013-021-031>033.

&&

RWT/Bezenek

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 13, 4:45 PM AKSTHigh Wind WarningAJK16 hr
Feb 13, 7:21 PM AKSTGale WarningAJK17 hr
Feb 14, 3:45 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK9 hr
Feb 14, 4:02 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK11 hr
Feb 14, 4:20 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK32 hr
Feb 14, 12:16 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK5 days
Feb 14, 12:22 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK27 hr
Feb 14, 12:25 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK39 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.