Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2018
Gale Warning 16, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Jan 18, 2018, 2:45 PM AKST. It was in force for 3 days. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Jan 18, 2018, 2:45 PM AKST (23:45 UTC)
- Expired
- Jan 21, 2018, 3:04 PM AKST
- In force
- 3 days
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted.
097 FZAK62 PAFC 182345 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 245 PM AKST Thu Jan 18 2018 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. PKZ499-191415- 245 PM AKST Thu Jan 18 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 1002 mb low at 54N 172W moves south and dissipates this evening. A strong front approaches the western Aleutians Fri afternoon and reaches Adak by Sat afternoon. $$ PKZ411-191415- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 245 PM AKST Thu Jan 18 2018 ...GALE WARNING FRIDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. .FRI...E wind 20 kt becoming 15 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .SAT...E wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. .SAT NIGHT...SE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. .SUN...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. .MON THROUGH TUE...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. $$ PKZ412-191415- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 245 PM AKST Thu Jan 18 2018 .TONIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Freezing spray. .SAT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. .SAT NIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .SUN THROUGH TUE...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ413-191415- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 245 PM AKST Thu Jan 18 2018 .TONIGHT...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. .FRI...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. .FRI NIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. .SAT...E wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. .SAT NIGHT...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft. .SUN THROUGH TUE...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. $$ PKZ414-191415- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 245 PM AKST Thu Jan 18 2018 .TONIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Freezing spray. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. Freezing spray. .SAT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .SAT NIGHT...N wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .SUN THROUGH TUE...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. $$
6 follow-up statements
662 FZAK62 PAFC 191138 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 238 AM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-200230- 238 AM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 998 mb low at 50N 157W moves to 52N 136W by Sun morning. A 968 mb North Pacific low moves to 47N 167E at 973 mb Sat morning then shifts to the Kamchatka Coast at 983 mb for Sun morning. Its associated front pushes over the Western Aleutians on Sun morning. $$ PKZ411-200230- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 238 AM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND SATURDAY... .TODAY...E wind 20 kt becoming 15 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 7 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind 20 to 30 kt becoming SE 25 to 40 kt after midnight. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .SAT...SE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. .SAT NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. .SUN THROUGH TUE...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. $$ PKZ412-200230- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 238 AM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 .TODAY...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Freezing spray E of 175W. .TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Freezing spray E of 175W. .SAT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .SAT NIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .SUN THROUGH MON...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .TUE...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. $$ PKZ413-200230- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 238 AM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 .TODAY...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. .SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .SAT NIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .SUN THROUGH MON...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .TUE...SE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. $$ PKZ414-200230- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 238 AM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 .TODAY...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Freezing spray N of 56N. .TONIGHT...NE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. Freezing spray N of 56N. .SAT...NE wind 20 to 30 kt diminishing to 10 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Freezing spray N of 56N. .SAT NIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .SUN THROUGH TUE...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$
334 FZAK62 PAFC 192358 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 258 PM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 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. PKZ499-201415- 258 PM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A front over the eastern Bering will move over the eastern Aleutians Sat night. A front over the western Aleutians will stay nearly stationary and then it will dissipate Sun afternoon. $$ PKZ411-201415- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 258 PM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...E wind 20 to 30 kt increasing to 25 to 40 kt after midnight. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .SAT...SE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. .SAT NIGHT...SE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Rain. .SUN...SE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 20 ft. .SUN NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 16 ft. .MON THROUGH WED...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. $$ PKZ412-201415- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 258 PM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 .TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Freezing spray. .SAT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .SAT NIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .SUN...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .SUN NIGHT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .MON...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. .TUE...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. .WED...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. $$ PKZ413-201415- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 258 PM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 ...GALE WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. .SAT...E wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .SAT NIGHT...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft. .SUN...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .SUN NIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .MON...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .TUE...SE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. .WED...SW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. $$ PKZ414-201415- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 258 PM AKST Fri Jan 19 2018 .TONIGHT...NE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. Freezing spray. .SAT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Freezing spray. .SAT NIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. Freezing spray. .SUN...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft. .MON THROUGH WED...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. $$
773 FZAK62 PAFC 201232 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 332 AM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-210230- 332 AM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 976 mb low at 48N 167E moves to Central Kamchatka at 983 mb by Sun morning. The associated front pushes over the Western Aleutians through Mon morning. A 1009 mb low forms near 47N 175W Sat evening and remains nearly stationary weakening to 1020 mb for Mon morning. $$ PKZ411-210230- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 332 AM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY... .TODAY...SE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. .TONIGHT...SE wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Rain. .SUN...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. .SUN NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 16 ft. .MON THROUGH TUE...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .WED...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. $$ PKZ412-210230- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 332 AM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 .TODAY...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .SUN...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .SUN NIGHT...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .MON THROUGH TUE...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .WED...NW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. $$ PKZ413-210230- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 332 AM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 .TODAY...E wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft. .SUN...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .SUN NIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .MON...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .TUE...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .WED...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. $$ PKZ414-210230- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 332 AM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 .TODAY...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Freezing spray. .TONIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft. Freezing spray. .SUN...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. Freezing spray. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft. .MON THROUGH WED...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$
208 FZAK62 PAFC 202355 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 255 PM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 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. PKZ499-211415- 255 PM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A front remains stationary over the eastern Aleutians through Tue afternoon. A second front over the western Aleutians dissipates Mon morning. A third front moves over the western Aleutians Sun night and then it will move into the western Bering Mon afternoon. $$ PKZ411-211415- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 255 PM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY... .TONIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Rain. .SUN...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. .SUN NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft. .MON...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft. .MON NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .TUE...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. .WED THROUGH THU...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. $$ PKZ412-211415- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 255 PM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 .TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .SUN...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .SUN NIGHT...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .MON...W wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .MON NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. .TUE...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .WED...NW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. .THU...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. $$ PKZ413-211415- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 255 PM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 .TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .SUN...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .SUN NIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .MON...SE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .MON NIGHT...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. .TUE THROUGH WED...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .THU...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. $$ PKZ414-211415- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 255 PM AKST Sat Jan 20 2018 .TONIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft. Freezing spray. .SUN...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Freezing spray. .SUN NIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Freezing spray. .MON...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .MON NIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .TUE...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. .WED THROUGH THU...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$
050 FZAK62 PAFC 211229 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 329 AM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-220215- 329 AM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... High pressure will remain over the central Bering through Tue morning. A pair of weak fronts will remain over the Western Aleutians through Tue morning. $$ PKZ411-220215- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 329 AM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. .TONIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft. .MON...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .MON NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .TUE...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .WED THROUGH THU...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. $$ PKZ412-220215- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 329 AM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 .TODAY...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .MON...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. .MON NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. .TUE...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. .WED...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. .THU...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. $$ PKZ413-220215- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 329 AM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 .TODAY...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .MON...E wind up to 15 kt becoming SW in the afternoon. Seas 7 ft. .MON NIGHT...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. .TUE THROUGH WED...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .THU...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. $$ PKZ414-220215- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 329 AM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 .TODAY...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. Freezing spray. .TONIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Freezing spray. .MON...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Freezing spray. .MON NIGHT...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .TUE...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. .WED THROUGH THU...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. $$
817 FZAK62 PAFC 220004 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 304 PM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 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. PKZ499-221400- 304 PM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A front over the eastern Aleutians will weaken Tue afternoon. High pressure persists in the Bering through Tue afternoon. $$ PKZ411-221400- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 304 PM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 .TONIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft. .MON...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. .MON NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. .TUE...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. .TUE NIGHT...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .WED THROUGH FRI...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. $$ PKZ412-221400- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 304 PM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 .TONIGHT...E wind up to 20 kt becoming SW up to 15 kt after midnight. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .MON...SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .MON NIGHT...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .TUE...SW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. .TUE NIGHT...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .WED...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. $$ PKZ413-221400- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 304 PM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 .TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .MON...S wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. .MON NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. .TUE...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. .TUE NIGHT...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. .WED...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ414-221400- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 304 PM AKST Sun Jan 21 2018 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Freezing spray. .MON...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Freezing spray. .MON NIGHT...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft. Freezing spray. .TUE...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft. .TUE NIGHT...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft. .WED THROUGH FRI...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 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 Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Jan 18, 4:16 AM AKST, 10 hours 29 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 18, 4:16 AM AKST, 10 hours 29 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 416 AM AKST Thu Jan 18 2018 .ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS... A decaying low continues to spins over Kodiak Island wrapping some moisture into the region. Cold air has filtered across southwest and any remnant moisture from this system will fall as snow north of Shelikof Strait whereas temperatures over Kodiak are slightly warmer and more conducive to rain or a rain-snow mix. Looking upstream, a trio of lows is closing in on the Western Aleutians. There is an occluded front north of Attu that extends east of Atka but this boundary and the adjoining lows will weaken over the Bering. The ominous low of the group is tracking northeastward out of the north Pacific. A surface high that has been over Siberia will begin to nose its way across the International Dateline and into the Central Bering. The latest scatterometer data clearly shows the anticyclonic moving into the Bering Sea. && .MODEL DISCUSSION... Models are in sync with large scale features through the weekend and there is good run to run continuity. The primary challenge will be pinpointing the temperatures as we head into a much cooler pattern. && .AVIATION... PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)... The trend to colder temperatures has begun over Southcentral Alaska with temperatures cooling through the weekend. The low that pumped the warm air into the region is filling rapidly over Kodiak Island where it is still producing rain and snow showers. There remains a weak upper level low over the Kenai Peninsula this morning which will persist through tomorrow before heading eastward Friday night into Saturday. Why this matters is that it is going to keep some cloud cover over the region and prevent a significant clearing trend. It also is keeping upper level support from developing for outflow winds. Therefore the winds along the north Gulf coast will be limited due to this. The surface pressure gradient and cold air advection will be enough to produce some gusty northerly winds, but they will not get overly strong (compared to what they often do) as a result of no upper level support for them at all. This upper level low will also bring some scattered snow showers to the Prince William Sound area late Friday into Saturday. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA... The low over Kodiak is expected to diminish and push off to the east through tonight and as it does snow over southwest Alaska will also diminish. Meanwhile, high pressure will build in from the north that will bring cold northerly winds to the area. Friday night and into the weekend this setup will bring temperatures that stay below 0 F for most of southwest Alaska locations that are not along the coast. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS... The weakening low near the western Aleutians and its stalled front that stretches over the eastern Aleutians will continue to bring light showers to the area until high pressure forces them out tonight into Friday. The high pressure will build in from the north bringing colder air to the Bering and Aleutians. Friday night into Saturday, another system will approach the western Aleutians from the North Pacific but its progression will be stalled by the high dominating the central Bering. This will keep the majority of the precip from this system isolated to the western and central Aleutians. && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7)... The long term forecast is still on track today with models in good agreement showing a major pattern shift beginning this weekend. A high amplitude blocking ridge will develop over the western Bering which will cause a longwave trough to descend south across the state by Sunday. The trough will drag brutally cold, eye lash freezing air down from Siberia, where temperatures were recorded as low as -80F earlier this week. This will lead to a significant cold air outbreak over most of interior and western portions of the state next week. Temperatures across interior sections could drop into the -30s and -40s by Monday with locations along the Bristol Bay coast dropping into the negative single digits or even negative teens. Though this is not shaping up to be a record breaking event, temperatures will be noticeably colder than it has been all winter, especially when factoring in the expected brisk northerly winds, which could drop wind chills as low as -50 across interior portions of SW Alaska. Southcentral looks to escape the brunt of the cold air as the Alaska Range will block the cold core to the north and west sides of the range. In fact, a weak surface low looks to develop in the Gulf by Tuesday which could bring periods of light/dry snow to the mountains and communities along the Prince William Sound from Tuesday through the end of the week, which should also pump in a little bit warmer air from the south helping to moderate temperatures across southcentral a bit. An upper level low looks to drop out of the Arctic around mid week bringing another reinforcing shot of cold air to the state. The low center should track south across the western half of the state, which would again concentrate the coldest air to SW Alaska. If the low tracks more to the east, as shown in previous GFS runs, cold arctic air could make its way into southcentral, though models seem to be agreeing more on the western track of the low. && .AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PUBLIC...None. MARINE...Gale 178 180. Heavy Freezing Spray 180 181 185. && SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...PJS SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...EZ SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...DK LONG TERM...KVP
The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 17, 3:04 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 13 hr | |
| Jan 17, 3:24 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 71 hr | |
| Jan 18, 2:47 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 5 days | |
| Jan 18, 2:47 AM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Jan 18, 2:52 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 3 days | |
| Jan 18, 2:52 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 7 days | |
| Jan 18, 2:52 PM AKST | Heavy Freezing Spray Warning | AFC | 13 days |
Nearby
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.