Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2018

Gale Warning 433, NWS Anchorage, AK

August 2, 2018

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Aug 2, 2018, 3:57 AM AKDT. 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
Aug 2, 2018, 3:57 AM AKDT (11:57 UTC)
Expired
Aug 4, 2018, 4:00 AM AKDT
In force
48 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

073 
FZAK61 PAFC 021157
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
357 AM AKDT Thu Aug 2 2018

Offshore waters forecast for the Gulf of Alaska West of 144W

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.

PKZ399-030230-
357 AM AKDT Thu Aug 2 2018
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A front in the western Gulf moves to the southeastern Gulf
tonight. The associated 985 mb low moves to 57N 146W tonight and
then moves to 53N 140W at 993 mb Fri night.

$$

PKZ351-030230-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
357 AM AKDT Thu Aug 2 2018

.TODAY...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. Rain.
.FRI...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft.
.SAT...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.

$$

PKZ352-030230-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
357 AM AKDT Thu Aug 2 2018

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY...

.TODAY...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Rain.
.FRI...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.SAT...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$
4 follow-up statements
127 
FZAK61 PAFC 022347
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
347 PM AKDT Thu Aug 2 2018

Offshore waters forecast for the Gulf of Alaska West of 144W

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.

PKZ399-031330-
347 PM AKDT Thu Aug 2 2018
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A front in the western Gulf moves to the southeastern Gulf
tonight. A 995 mb low near 57N 151W will strengthen to 985 mb and
move to 57N 146W tonight. It then moves to 53N 140W at 993 mb Fri
night. North to northeasterly flow will prevail through the Gulf 
through Sunday.

$$

PKZ351-031330-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
347 PM AKDT Thu Aug 2 2018

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. Rain.
.FRI...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 13 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.SAT...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.

$$

PKZ352-031330-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
347 PM AKDT Thu Aug 2 2018

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...SW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. Rain.
.FRI...NW wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.SAT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.


$$
235 
FZAK61 PAFC 031220
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
420 AM AKDT Fri Aug 3 2018

Offshore waters forecast for the Gulf of Alaska West of 144W

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.

PKZ399-040115-
420 AM AKDT Fri Aug 3 2018
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 983 mb low at 57N 147W exits the Gulf to the south tonight and
remains in the North Pacific at 997 mb through Sat night. A ridge
of high pressure approaches the western Gulf Sat night.

$$

PKZ351-040115-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
420 AM AKDT Fri Aug 3 2018

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 14 ft.
.SAT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ352-040115-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
420 AM AKDT Fri Aug 3 2018

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...W wind 25 kt becoming N 25 to 40 kt in the afternoon. Seas 
9 to 17 ft.
.TONIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.SAT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN...N wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$
294 
FZAK61 PAFC 032349
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
349 PM AKDT Fri Aug 3 2018

Offshore waters forecast for the Gulf of Alaska West of 144W

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.

PKZ399-041330-
349 PM AKDT Fri Aug 3 2018
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 983 mb low at 57N 147W Fri afternoon will weaken to 994 mb while 
moving to 51N 141W Sat afternoon, then sliding further south Sun. A 
ridge of high pressure will build across the western Gulf through the
period.

$$

PKZ351-041330-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
349 PM AKDT Fri Aug 3 2018

.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 14 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN...E wind up to 10 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON THROUGH WED...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ352-041330-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
349 PM AKDT Fri Aug 3 2018

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.SAT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.MON THROUGH WED...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.

$$
067 
FZAK61 PAFC 041200
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
400 AM AKDT Sat Aug 4 2018

Offshore waters forecast for the Gulf of Alaska West of 144W

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.

PKZ399-050115-
400 AM AKDT Sat Aug 4 2018
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 991 mb low at 51N 144W weakens to 995 mb and exits the Gulf
tonight. A ridge of high pressure builds over the Gulf through Sun
night.

$$

PKZ351-050115-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
400 AM AKDT Sat Aug 4 2018

.TODAY...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON THROUGH WED...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ352-050115-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
400 AM AKDT Sat Aug 4 2018

.TODAY...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft.
.TONIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.MON THROUGH WED...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 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 Aug 1, 4:51 PM AKDT, 11 hours 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 1, 4:51 PM AKDT, 11 hours 6 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
451 PM AKDT Wed Aug 1 2018

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
A broad upper low continues over the NE Bering Sea with a
negatively oriented ridge extending from the NE Pacific to over
the Yukon Territory. Satellite imagery shows upper waves and
moisture caught in a broad nearly zonal jet stream moving eastward
from the Western Bering Sea/Aleutians to across Southcentral
Alaska. At the surface, a stacked low continues near Saint
Matthew Island with surface front/troughs bringing abundant cloud
cover from the Western Aleutians to over the Mainland. Rain was
observed from the western Aleutians to over mainland. Rain ended
across much of Southcentral this morning just after transiting to
drizzle. Low stratus and patchy fog across the Eastern Bering
Sea/SW Alaska, and portions of Southcentral make for challenging
TAF forecasts.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
Models are in good synoptic agreement through the short term. The
GFS is generally bringing easterly gales into the northern Gulf
late Thursday into Friday as the surface low intensifies over the
Gulf. Will be leaning toward max small craft winds for this
package.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...The ceiling should remain VFR this evening, but the
terminal could see MVFR ceiling again Thursday morning as a front
brings in rain. Winds should be fairly light through tonight, but
possibly a little stronger out of the southeast Thursday
afternoon.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (through Saturday
afternoon)...
Despite a cooler air mass overhead, this evening should be fairly
pleasant with some breaks appearing around the Cook Inlet region.
A weakly unstable air mass lingers over the Copper River Basin
where isolated thunderstorms are possible early this evening. The
pattern changes very quickly overnight as upper-level heights fall
and a trough moves overhead. Widespread rain will move into Cook
Inlet Thursday morning. As the surface low pressure moves into the
Gulf, a period of easterly cross-barrier flow will set up, which
could limit rain amounts in the normal downslope areas. The
Turnagain wind will tick up at this time, but shouldn't impact the
Anchorage Bowl much at all. Rain will linger along the north Gulf
coast on Friday morning, but otherwise the low will exit to the
southeast fairly quickly. Friday has the potential to be dry and
warm as the offshore flow establishes. Saturday will feature some
middle and high clouds streaming overhead from the northwest but
should otherwise be a warm late-summer day.

&&

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

As the main upper-level low continues to track north toward the
Bering Strait a more progressive weather pattern is taking shape
across the southern Bering. This pattern features a series of
quick-moving troughs and fronts, the first of which will continue
to produce rain across the Y-K Delta tonight as it lifts farther
into the mainland interior. The second, a warm front situated over
the eastern Aleutians with a trailing cold front, will push
another slug of clouds and moisture across the Alaska Peninsula
and through Bristol Bay overnight tonight into Thursday. Rain and
clouds continue through early Friday morning as a surface low
positioned south of Norton Sound dives south along with its upper-
level counterpart in the northern Bering. Conditions improve
briefly for Friday as high pressure builds over the southwest
mainland. This will be short-lived, however, as a weak warm front
approaches the forecast area Friday night with increasing clouds
and a chance of rain for the start of the weekend.

&&

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

It will remain quite active over the Bering through the forecast
period. To begin, a vertically stacked low continues to lift
northwest toward Saint Matthew Island overnight. Farther south, a
a warm front will continue to produce widespread rain over the
eastern Aleutians through the evening hours. Rain and fog will
also persist over the central and western Aleutians through
tomorrow as a shortwave rides the boundary of an upper-level low
to the north and a building ridge to the south. The building ridge
takes hold over the central Aleutians by Thursday afternoon and
remains through Saturday with low stratus and patchy fog likely
under the ridge. The resultant northwesterly flow upstream of the
ridge should keep some clouds and showers over the eastern
Aleutians through Friday. To the west, a storm system will ride up
and over the ridge with a warm front entering the western Bering
Thursday reaching the eastern Bering Friday evening. The trailing
cold front will produce some gales across the western Aleutians
late Thursday then weaken and stall while keeping things unsettled
through Friday.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7)...
Beginning this weekend a stagnant pattern will begin to setup as a
cutoff low from the Gulf moves southward into the North Pacific
and becomes nearly stationary. This will allow for a ridge of high
pressure to ride up along a broad trough that will setup over the
Northern Mainland, providing persistent zonal flow for most of
the Bering and South Mainland into early next week. This will
allow for a series of frontal systems from the Bering to move
through the South Mainland for later this weekend into the early
part of next week, allowing for a wet start to next week for most
areas.

By the middle of next week there uncertainty begins to develop
with how deep a trough diving from Eastern Russia will move into
the Bering. This will erode away the ridging that will setup over
the Bering, and allow for continued active and likely wet weather
for most of the area into the later portions of wet week.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...Gale 178.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...BC
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...MTL
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...TM
LONG TERM...DEK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 2, 3:56 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC36 hr
Aug 2, 3:56 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Aug 2, 4:03 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Aug 2, 4:03 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC9 days
Aug 2, 3:36 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Aug 2, 3:36 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC3 days
Aug 2, 3:47 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Aug 2, 3:52 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Aug 2, 3:52 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.