Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2018
Gale Warning 635, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Nov 9, 2018, 3:30 AM AKST. It was in force for 60 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
- Nov 9, 2018, 3:30 AM AKST (12:30 UTC)
- Expired
- Nov 11, 2018, 3:33 PM AKST
- In force
- 60 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted.
413 FZAK61 PAFC 091230 OFFAER Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 330 AM AKST Fri Nov 9 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. PKZ399-100200- 330 AM AKST Fri Nov 9 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA... A front in the western Gulf moves into the eastern Gulf this evening. A 1021 mb low forms near 60N 146W Fri afternoon and moves to 59N 141W at 1025 mb and dissipates midday Sat. A 998 mb North Pacific low moves to 56N 158W and dissipates Sun morning. Its front moves over the western Gulf through Sun morning. $$ PKZ351-100200- Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W- 330 AM AKST Fri Nov 9 2018 ...GALE WARNING SATURDAY... .TODAY...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. .TONIGHT...W wind up to 20 kt becoming E after midnight. Seas 6 ft. .SAT...E wind 10 to 25 kt increasing to 25 to 40 kt in the afternoon. Seas 5 ft building to 6 to 11 ft in the afternoon. Rain. .SAT NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 11 to 16 ft. .SUN...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. .MON...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .TUE...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. $$ PKZ352-100200- Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of 144W- 330 AM AKST Fri Nov 9 2018 ...GALE WARNING SATURDAY... .TODAY...W wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .TONIGHT...W wind up to 15 kt becoming SE after midnight. Seas 6 ft. .SAT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain. .SAT NIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 13 to 17 ft. .SUN THROUGH TUE...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. $$
5 follow-up statements
200 FZAK61 PAFC 100021 OFFAER Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 321 PM AKST Fri Nov 9 2018 Offshore waters forecast for the Gulf of Alaska West of 144W Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ399-101330- 321 PM AKST Fri Nov 9 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA... A 1004 mb North Pacific low moves to 53N 155W at 988 mb Sat morning and then moves to 55N 159W at 978 mb Sat afternoon. The low then moves into the southern Bering Sat night at 970 mb. The associated front remains over the Gulf through Sun afternoon. $$ PKZ351-101330- Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W- 321 PM AKST Fri Nov 9 2018 ...GALE WARNING SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...N wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .SAT...E wind 15 to 30 kt increasing to 25 to 40 kt in the afternoon. Seas 5 ft building to 6 to 11 ft in the afternoon. Rain. .SAT NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt diminishing to 20 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 12 to 17 ft. Rain. .SUN...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 19 ft. .SUN NIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. .MON...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .TUE THROUGH WED...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ352-101330- Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of 144W- 321 PM AKST Fri Nov 9 2018 ...GALE WARNING SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...NW wind up to 15 kt becoming SE after midnight. Seas 6 ft. Rain. .SAT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Rain. .SAT NIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. Rain. .SUN...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. .SUN NIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. .MON THROUGH WED...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. $$
510 FZAK61 PAFC 101250 OFFAER Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 350 AM AKST Sat Nov 10 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. PKZ399-110200- 350 AM AKST Sat Nov 10 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA... A front over the northern Gulf moves into the North Gulf Coast by Sun morning. The trailing front persists over the central Gulf through Mon morning. A multiple center low complex moves over the western Gulf through Mon morning. $$ PKZ351-110200- Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W- 350 AM AKST Sat Nov 10 2018 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY... .TODAY...E wind 10 to 25 kt increasing to 25 to 40 kt in the afternoon. Seas 5 to 10 ft. Rain. .TONIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt diminishing to 20 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 10 to 17 ft. Rain. .SUN...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Rain. .SUN NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 17 to 20 ft. .MON...SE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .TUE THROUGH WED...SE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft. $$ PKZ352-110200- Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of 144W- 350 AM AKST Sat Nov 10 2018 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY... .TODAY...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Rain. .TONIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 17 ft. Rain. .SUN...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. Rain. .SUN NIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 21 ft. .MON THROUGH WED...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft. $$
297 FZAK61 PAFC 110000 OFFAER Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 300 PM AKST Sat Nov 10 2018 Offshore waters forecast for the Gulf of Alaska West of 144W Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ399-111345- 300 PM AKST Sat Nov 10 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA... A front in the northern Gulf associated with a 982 mb North Pacific low over the eastern Aleutians will slowly move east and weaken through Mon. A low pressure system will move into the southern Gulf Mon afternoon. $$ PKZ351-111345- Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W- 300 PM AKST Sat Nov 10 2018 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt becoming S 20 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 10 to 17 ft. Rain. .SUN...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. Rain. .SUN NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 35 kt becoming S 15 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 16 to 19 ft. .MON...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft. .MON NIGHT...SE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 11 to 14 ft. .TUE THROUGH THU...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. $$ PKZ352-111345- Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of 144W- 300 PM AKST Sat Nov 10 2018 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 18 ft. Rain. .SUN...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft. Rain. .SUN NIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt diminishing to 10 to 25 kt after midnight. Seas 14 to 20 ft. .MON...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft. .MON NIGHT...SE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 12 ft. .TUE THROUGH THU...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. $$
740 FZAK61 PAFC 111242 OFFAER Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 342 AM AKST Sun Nov 11 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. PKZ399-120145- 342 AM AKST Sun Nov 11 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA... A front persists across the Gulf. A 971 mb North Pacific low moves into the Gulf by Mon night and moves to 57N 152W at 970 mb by Tue morning. Its front moves into the north Gulf Coast through Tue morning. $$ PKZ351-120145- Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W- 342 AM AKST Sun Nov 11 2018 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT... .TODAY...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 19 ft. Rain. .TONIGHT...SE wind 25 to 35 kt becoming S 15 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 16 to 20 ft. .MON...SE wind 15 kt becoming E 20 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 13 to 18 ft. Rain. .MON NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 17 to 26 ft. .TUE...SE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .WED...S wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. .THU...E wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft. $$ PKZ352-120145- Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of 144W- 342 AM AKST Sun Nov 11 2018 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT... .TODAY...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. .TONIGHT...SE wind 25 to 35 kt becoming S 10 to 25 kt after midnight. Seas 15 to 21 ft. .MON...E wind 10 to 20 kt increasing to 15 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 11 to 19 ft. Rain. .MON NIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. .TUE...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. .WED...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft. .THU...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. $$
976 FZAK61 PAFC 120033 OFFAER Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 333 PM AKST Sun Nov 11 2018 Offshore waters forecast for the Gulf of Alaska West of 144W Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ399-121345- 333 PM AKST Sun Nov 11 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA... A front over the Gulf will weaken Mon morning. A 974 mb Pacific low will move to 54N 147W Mon afternoon then it will move to 57N 153W at 963 mb Tue morning. The low will then move to 57N 157W at 976 mb Tue afternoon. $$ PKZ351-121345- Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W- 333 PM AKST Sun Nov 11 2018 ...STORM WARNING MONDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...SE wind 25 to 35 kt becoming S 15 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 15 to 20 ft. Widespread rain showers. .MON...SE wind up to 20 kt becoming E 20 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Rain. .MON NIGHT...SE wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 15 to 29 ft. .TUE...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. .TUE NIGHT...SE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. .WED...S wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. $$ PKZ352-121345- Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of 144W- 333 PM AKST Sun Nov 11 2018 ...STORM WARNING MONDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...SE wind 25 to 35 kt becoming S 10 to 25 kt after midnight. Seas 14 to 21 ft. Widespread rain showers. .MON...E wind 10 to 25 kt increasing to 20 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 12 to 18 ft. Rain. .MON NIGHT...S wind 40 to 55 kt. Seas 15 to 27 ft. .TUE...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. .TUE NIGHT...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 12 ft. .WED...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. $$
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 Nov 8, 5:09 PM AKST, 10 hours 21 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 8, 5:09 PM AKST, 10 hours 21 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 509 PM AKST Thu Nov 8 2018 .ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS... The mainland of Alaska is currently under the influence of a very baggy long-wave trough that extends from the Arctic southward to the Aleutians. One embedded short-wave is currently departing Southcentral Alaska, while, further to the west, a much deeper system is impacting the Bering Sea and southwest mainland. The upper jet is feeding into the long-wave, streaming across the Aleutians. A secondary short-wave trough is digging on the backside of the long-wave. The system currently in the northern Gulf is weakening this afternoon as it moves east, pushed by the building ridging ahead of the next system. Despite light RADAR returns over Anchorage and the Matanuska Valley all morning long, moisture was not able to overcome the dry air at the surface, resulting in only flurries/very light snow over eastern Anchorage and the Hillside. However, closer to the actual surface low pressure, Cordova and Valdez have experienced rain and snow, respectively. The front associated with the Bering Sea system is affecting the southwest coast; southeast winds are approaching gale-force. Behind the front, a very convective-looking atmosphere exists with plenty of cellular clouds, but not much has been reported along the lines of gusty winds or showers. && .MODEL DISCUSSION... Guidance is in good agreement with the large-scale pattern for the next few days. Consensus is that digging short-wave in the Bering trough will become the new long-wave center, while at the same time phasing with a piece of energy cut off in the sub-tropics. The details are still hazy but there looks to be a strong front coming into the region by the weekend. && .AVIATION... PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)... (Tonight through Sunday) An area of low pressure continues to spin near Middleton Island, bringing areas of rain and snow to locations east of a line from the eastern Kenai through Paxson. Low-level dry air won the battle overnight for locations to the west of here, as this mornings sounding showed a wedge of dry air remained below 4000 feet. Look for the precipitation tonight to gradually decrease in coverage and intensity as it shifts east. Our attention then turns to the next storm heading north towards the eastern Aleutians/AKPEN. This storm will be rapidly deepening as it heads north sending an occluded front towards the Gulf and Southcentral. A deep moist fetch will precede the front, as the moisture originates from near Hawaii. Current forecasts show precipitable water values of 4 to 6 standard deviations above normal. Needless to say, this system will have plenty of precipitation with it. So the obvious next question is precipitation type. Right now its too early to pin down who gets what and how much, but, one thing is for sure. For locations near the coast (if not further north) it'll warm up as the models show 850 mb temperatures increasing from the -8 to -10 range to +5 deg. C in a 36 hour period. With such a strong 850mb front, precipitation will be likely into at least the southern third to half as Southcentral, even if the surface front hangs up near the coast (looks like a strong barrier jet will develop, as an over- running setup develops. Stay tuned ! && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)... A very active pattern is underway as an occluded front is rapidly moving inland across Southwest this evening. The front will weaken as it moves inland, but expect a burst of snow for inland areas as the front moves east tonight. Rain and show showers will follow behind the front mainly along the coast as instability driven showers move in with increasing onshore flow. Ridging aloft will dry the region out Friday night before the next round of active weather begins as a Pacific low moves a powerful warm front into Southwest. This will bring threats for snow along with a mix of rain, but some areas may see decent accumulations east of King Salmon and west of the Western Capes Sat and into Saturday evening. Along with E-NE winds of 35-50 MPH, this may result in quite a bit of blowing snow as it falls which may dramatically reduce visibility. Strong offshore winds will slowly diminish Sunday as the front lifts north of the region but will still remain gusty. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3)... A powerful storm force low is moving across the western Bering Sea with the associated occluded front moving inland across the Southwest Alaska coast. Seas near the core of the low are in excess of 35 feet, but these winds and seas will dramatically diminish by Friday morning. Thereafter, broad cyclonic flow will develop over the Bering Sea with gales over both the western and eastern Bering Sea before the next powerful storm force low drives into the eastern Bering Sea on Saturday then moves over into the central Bering by Sunday, reinforcing the stout northerly cold air advection winds over the western half of the Bering. && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7/Sun night through Thu)... The longer term forecast starts out in a very active pattern late Sunday with a large and complex low centered in the Eastern Aleutians with a secondary center along the front in the western Gulf of Alaska. There is a cull between these lows but a tight pressure gradient along the front curving out of the Gulf of Alaska...into Southcentral and Southwest Alaska and then through most of the Bering Sea. The main low will take a round about route into the Gulf of Alaska through the middle of the week and then into Southeast Alaska Thursday. While this is a rather complex low and track, the good news is that there is fairly good agreement on models, especially in the synoptic features, which brings increased confidence in the main elements of the forecasts. This pattern is bringing some very warm air to the southern mainland and southeast Bering Sea for the start of the week. Therefore there will be some windy and rainy areas which then will transition back to snow showers with cooling temperatures aloft. The cold air which was displaced to the northwest by this system will move back over the region quickly in the Monday to Monday night timeframe as the low further occludes and moves eastward. By next Thursday, the mainland part of the state will once again be under an upper level trough with a ridge over the central Bering Sea leaving the area in generally dry pattern with seasonal temperatures. && .AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PUBLIC...High Surf Advisory public zone 155. None. MARINE...Storms 185 412. Gales 175-181 351 411 412 413. && SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...ML SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...PD/SEB SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...JA LONG TERM...EZ
The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 3:15 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 4 days | |
| Nov 8, 3:24 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Nov 8, 3:46 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Nov 8, 4:00 PM AKST | High Surf Advisory | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Nov 9, 3:30 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 25 hr | |
| Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 4 days | |
| Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 48 hr |
Nearby
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.