Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2018

Gale Warning 635, NWS Anchorage, AK

November 9, 2018

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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 8, 3:15 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC4 days
Nov 8, 3:24 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Nov 8, 3:46 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Nov 8, 4:00 PM AKSTHigh Surf AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Nov 9, 3:30 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC25 hr
Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC36 hr
Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC4 days
Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC36 hr
Nov 9, 3:33 AM AKSTStorm WarningAFC48 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.