Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2018

Gale Warning 409, NWS Anchorage, AK

June 14, 2018

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Jun 14, 2018, 3:44 PM AKDT. It was in force for 12 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
Jun 14, 2018, 3:44 PM AKDT (23:44 UTC)
Expired
Jun 15, 2018, 4:01 AM AKDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

271 
FZAK52 PAFC 142344
CWFALU

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

Coastal Waters Forecast for Southwest Alaska+Bristol Bay+The
Alaska Peninsula Waters and the Aleutian Islands up to 100 nm out.

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.

PKZ199-151300-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS...

A 962 mb low 530 nm southwest of Dutch Harbor moves to 190 nm
south of Dutch Harbor at 972 mb by Fri afternoon and then to 80 nm
east of Dutch Harbor at 985 mb by Sat afternoon.

$$

PKZ150-151300-
South of the AK Peninsula Sitkinak to Castle Cape-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 30 kt. Seas building to 9 ft. E of Chirikof 
Island, SE wind 20 kt in the evening becoming E 30 kt. 
Seas building to 7 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.TUE...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ155-151300-
South of the AK Peninsula Castle Cape to Cape Sarichef-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 35 kt. Seas 13 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SE wind 30 kt except SE 25 kt from the Shumagin Islands E.
Seas 18 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 19 ft. Rain.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.SUN...S wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ160-151300-
Bristol Bay-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 15 kt increasing to 25 kt after midnight. 
Seas 4 ft.
.FRI...E wind 30 kt. Seas 5 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 1 foot.

$$

PKZ165-151300-
Port Heiden to Cape Sarichef-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Rain.
.FRI...E wind 30 kt in the evening decreasing to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ170-151300-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Bering Side-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Rain.
.FRI...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ171-151300-
Unalaska Bay-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

.TONIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Rain.
.FRI...E wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 20 kt diminishing to 10 kt after midnight. 
Seas 3 ft. Rain.
.SAT...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SUN...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ172-151300-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Pacific Side-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 16 ft. Rain.
.FRI...E wind 30 kt. Seas 19 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 20 ft. Rain.
.SAT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ173-151300-
Nikolski to Seguam Island Bering Side-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft. Rain.
.FRI...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 14 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ174-151300-
Nikolski to Seguam Island Pacific Side-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 19 ft. Rain.
.FRI...NE wind 30 kt becoming N 20 kt in the afternoon. 
Seas 18 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SAT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ175-151300-
Seguam Island to Adak Bering Side-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.FRI...N wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ176-151300-
Seguam Island to Adak Pacific Side-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 18 ft. Rain.
.FRI...N wind 30 kt. Seas 17 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ177-151300-
Adak to Kiska-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.FRI...N wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ178-151300-
Kiska to Attu-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...N wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ179-151300-
Pribilof Islands Near Shore Waters-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Areas of fog.
.FRI...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Areas of fog.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...N wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ180-151300-
Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt increasing to 25 kt after midnight. 
Seas 5 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ181-151300-
North and West of Nunivak Island-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt in the evening increasing to 25 kt. 
Seas 5 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ185-151300-
Saint Matthew Island Waters-
344 PM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. W of Saint Matthew Island, NE wind 10 kt. 
Seas 4 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 25 kt. W of Saint Matthew Island, NE wind 10 kt in 
the morning increasing to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. W of Saint Matthew Island, NE wind 20 kt.
Seas 9 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN...N wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$
1 follow-up statement
503 
FZAK52 PAFC 151201
CWFALU

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

Coastal Waters Forecast for Southwest Alaska+Bristol Bay+The
Alaska Peninsula Waters and the Aleutian Islands up to 100 nm out.

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.

PKZ199-160045-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS...

A 968 mb low 340 nm south of Dutch Harbor moves to 70 nm 
southwest of Dutch Harbor at 978 mb tonight. The low 
then moves to 100 nm northwest of Cold Bay at 988 mb Sat night.

$$

PKZ150-160045-
South of the AK Peninsula Sitkinak to Castle Cape-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.SAT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 17 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...S wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ155-160045-
South of the AK Peninsula Castle Cape to Cape Sarichef-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 30 kt except SE 25 kt from the Shumagin 
Islands E. Seas 17 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 19 ft. Rain.
.SAT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 17 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SUN...S wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.MON...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ160-160045-
Bristol Bay-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...E wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ165-160045-
Port Heiden to Cape Sarichef-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN...S wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.MON...S wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ170-160045-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Bering Side-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...W wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ171-160045-
Unalaska Bay-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

.TODAY...E wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft. Rain.
.SAT...E wind 10 kt in the morning becoming variable less than
10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SUN...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ172-160045-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Pacific Side-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...E wind 30 kt. Seas 19 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 19 ft. Rain.
.SAT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ173-160045-
Nikolski to Seguam Island Bering Side-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 14 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SAT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ174-160045-
Nikolski to Seguam Island Pacific Side-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt becoming N 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas
18 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SAT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ175-160045-
Seguam Island to Adak Bering Side-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...N wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.TONIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SAT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ176-160045-
Seguam Island to Adak Pacific Side-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...N wind 30 kt. Seas 17 ft.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SAT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ177-160045-
Adak to Kiska-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...N wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.TONIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...N wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ178-160045-
Kiska to Attu-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TODAY...N wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. Patchy fog.
.TONIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...W wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ179-160045-
Pribilof Islands Near Shore Waters-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Areas of fog.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...N wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ180-160045-
Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TODAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ181-160045-
North and West of Nunivak Island-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ185-160045-
Saint Matthew Island Waters-
401 AM AKDT Fri Jun 15 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN...N wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON...N wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TUE...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 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 Jun 14, 5:19 AM AKDT, 10 hours 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 14, 5:19 AM AKDT, 10 hours 25 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
519 AM AKDT Thu Jun 14 2018

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

Scattered showers occurred once again yesterday across portions
of the Copper River Basin, Susitna Valley, and the Lower Kuskokwim
Valley, with a couple isolated thunderstorms east of Koliganek in
the Bristol Bay area. Elsewhere, plentiful sunshine dominated over
the Kuskokwim Delta and southern Bristol Bay. Across the Bering,
the usual fog and stratus persisted across the southern half of
the sea, while the northern half got to enjoy an unusual mainly
sunny day. Temperatures remained in the 60s across most of
Southcentral, with 70 reported in Seward and Kodiak. Lower 70s
were much more common across the Lower Kuskokwim Valley and
Bristol Bay with the highest temperature in southern Alaska
reaching 76 in Koliganek.

In the upper levels, most of the area is in a primarily stagnant
pattern of light northwest flow aloft. A deep low over the North
Pacific south of the Aleutians will be making its way northward
into the Bering by Saturday, helping induce a pattern change
towards the wetter side. A bit more cloud cover than expected
developed from Kenai northward overnight as a weak upper level
wave helped enhance the lift over the area.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

The models are in good agreement on the handling of the major
synoptic features affecting Southern Alaska over the next couple
days. A strong low over the north Pacific will track northward
into the Aleutians by Saturday, bringing the first of several
rounds of precipitation to the area. Other than some minor
differences in the placement of the low, the main differences
between the models mainly regard timing and the location of the
smaller scale features. All of the models have slowed down the
onset of precipitation by about 6 hours. A GFS/SREF blend was used
for precipitation field updates in the current forecast package.

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist through this
morning. The Turnagain Arm wind will increase during the afternoon
today. This will lead to gusty southeast winds over the airport
which will persist into the overnight hours tonight.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
Westerly flow aloft today and tonight will keep much of the area
fairly dry. The flow today will be slightly cyclonic, which is
allowing some clouds to remain over the area. Some isolated
showers are also possible, mainly from about Anchorage northward.
Some ridging will build into the southern mainland tonight, ahead
of an approaching weather system from the south. This is the
beginning of a pattern change. The leading front will reach Kodiak
Island tonight, then surge northward to the Kenai peninsula Friday
morning. Rain will spread over most of Southcentral on Friday.
Gusty winds are expected out of Turnagain Arm and along the Knik
and Copper Rivers. With deep/moist southwesterly flow however,
these winds are not expected to produce much downslope drying for
inland areas.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)...

The longwave pattern features high pressure over the Bering and an
upper low over the North Slope with the trough axis descending
into the Alaska Range. Expect dry conditions all of today and
tonight. The much advertised low over the North Pacific is very
prominent on satellite imagery. The leading edge of the cloud
shield is just starting to move into the Central Aleutians. Today,
this mature low in the North Pacific will move north across the
Aleutians and AKPEN bringing increased cloud coverage and rain to
the region beginning Friday. The low is tracking a little slower
than orginally anticipated pushing the timing of the precipitation
back. Saturday and Sunday are looking wet and gloomy.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3)...

A dome of high pressure continues to dominate the Bering. The
latest ASCAT/advanced scatterometer pass has the surface high west
of St Matthew Island. Today an organized low will continue its advance
towards the Aleutians. This will shift the position of the high in
the Bering. It will also bring gale force winds into the region.
The surface low will cross the chain near Unalaska Saturday
afternoon.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7...Sat through Wed)...
The long term pattern continues to look like a major shift away
from the mostly sunny and mild start that we have seen for June.
The general idea of the broad longwave trough establishing itself
over the Eastern Bering holds true and all models remain in near
"lock-step" with the synoptic set-up. Now, there is starting to be
some more clarity with individual waves of energy and when the
heaviest bouts of rain will be.

Sat will start for most of the region with the initial front
departing to our north. With potent southerly flow continuing to
pump moisture into the mainland, all areas will remain highly
vulnerable to showers. The best chance for these will be along
southerly facing terrain and the north Gulf Coast. The next best
defined shortwave will move quickly from south to north across the
Gulf of AK late Sun night into Mon morning. This will bring
another round of moderate rain from the Gulf Coast into the Cook
Inlet. This batch of rain will eventually move into SW AK and the
Susitna and Copper River Valleys later Mon. It will also stir up
another round of gusty southeasterly winds. West of the trough
axis over the Western Bering, flow will remain out of the north.
This will keep things quite dry across that area, but we can never
rule out widespread low clouds developing as June is a
climatological peak for marine stratus.

Beyond Mon, uncertainty starts to creep back in regarding
individual waves of energy. But the overall cloudy and showery
pattern will hold over most of southern AK through the week. There
are some signs of hope by the end of the week as the parent low
ejects northward and ridging tries to nudge in from the N Pacific.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...GALE 131 172 174.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...JW
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...BL
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...PJS
LONG TERM...JR

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 14, 3:49 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC36 hr
Jun 14, 3:49 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC4 days
Jun 14, 4:01 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Jun 14, 4:01 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC6 days
Jun 14, 3:36 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC36 hr
Jun 14, 3:36 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC60 hr
Jun 14, 3:44 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC36 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2018Every gale warning in 2018

Sources

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