Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2018
Gale Warning 733, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Dec 2, 2018, 2:55 PM AKST. It was in force for 37 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
- Dec 2, 2018, 2:55 PM AKST (23:55 UTC)
- Expired
- Dec 4, 2018, 3:53 AM AKST
- In force
- 37 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted.
592 FZAK61 PAFC 022355 OFFAER Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 255 PM AKST Sun Dec 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. PKZ399-031415- 255 PM AKST Sun Dec 2 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA... A front streams over the Gulf into the North Gulf Coast through Tue afternoon. A second front enters the Western Gulf Mon night and sweeps into the North Gulf Coast for Tue afternoon. $$ PKZ351-031415- Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W- 255 PM AKST Sun Dec 2 2018 .TONIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. .MON...W wind up to 15 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas 7 to 10 ft. .MON NIGHT...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. .TUE...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .TUE NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 11 to 15 ft. .WED THROUGH THU...SE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft. .FRI...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 16 to 22 ft. $$ PKZ352-031415- Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of 144W- 255 PM AKST Sun Dec 2 2018 ...GALE WARNING MONDAY NIGHT... .TONIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. .MON...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. .MON NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft. .TUE...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft. .TUE NIGHT...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 14 to 20 ft. .WED...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft. $$
3 follow-up statements
615 FZAK61 PAFC 031222 OFFAER Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 322 AM AKST Mon Dec 3 2018 Offshore waters forecast for the Gulf of Alaska West of 144W Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ399-040215- 322 AM AKST Mon Dec 3 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA... A front in the western Gulf Tue morning moves east and weakens by Tue night. A second front moves into the Gulf Wed morning. $$ PKZ351-040215- Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W- 322 AM AKST Mon Dec 3 2018 .TODAY...S wind up to 15 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. .TONIGHT...SE wind up to 20 kt increasing to 15 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 10 ft. .TUE...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .TUE NIGHT...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 15 ft. .WED...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. $$ PKZ352-040215- Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of 144W- 322 AM AKST Mon Dec 3 2018 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TODAY...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 12 ft. .TONIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft. .TUE...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft. .TUE NIGHT...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. .WED THROUGH FRI...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. $$
382 FZAK61 PAFC 040039 OFFAER Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 339 PM AKST Mon Dec 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. PKZ399-041445- 339 PM AKST Mon Dec 3 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA... A front enters the Western Gulf Mon night and pushes towards the North Gulf Coast and Southeast Alaska through Wed afternoon. A 1019 mb low at 59N 146W forms along the front Tue night and moves to 59N 143W at 1015 mb by Wed afternoon. $$ PKZ351-041445- Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W- 339 PM AKST Mon Dec 3 2018 .TONIGHT...SE wind up to 20 kt increasing to 15 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 10 ft. .TUE...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .TUE NIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 15 ft. .WED...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 15 ft. .WED NIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .SAT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ352-041445- Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of 144W- 339 PM AKST Mon Dec 3 2018 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...SE wind increasing to 20 to 35 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft. .TUE...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft. .TUE NIGHT...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. .WED...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 15 to 19 ft. .WED NIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 12 to 15 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. .SAT...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. $$
134 FZAK61 PAFC 041253 OFFAER Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 353 AM AKST Tue Dec 4 2018 Offshore waters forecast for the Gulf of Alaska West of 144W Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ399-050200- 353 AM AKST Tue Dec 4 2018 .SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA... A front moves into the northern Gulf coast through Tue night. A second front moves into the western Gulf Wed morning. The associated 989 mb low moves to 53N 154W by Thu morning. $$ PKZ351-050200- Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W- 353 AM AKST Tue Dec 4 2018 .TODAY...SE wind 20 to 30 kt becoming S 10 to 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain. .TONIGHT...SW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 10 to 15 ft. .WED...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 15 ft. .WED NIGHT...SE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 13 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. .SAT...SE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 9 to 12 ft. $$ PKZ352-050200- Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of 144W- 353 AM AKST Tue Dec 4 2018 .TODAY...S wind 15 to 30 kt becoming SW 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 11 to 16 ft. Rain. .TONIGHT...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. .WED...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. .WED NIGHT...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 12 to 16 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft. .SAT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. $$
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 Dec 2, 4:56 AM AKST, 9 hours 59 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 2, 4:56 AM AKST, 9 hours 59 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 456 AM AKST Sun Dec 2 2018 .ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS... An area of low pressure located off the coast of Cape Newenham is bringing a push of warmer air across southwest Alaska as showery precipitation spreads across the area. Most stations around Bristol Bay are above freezing, and most areas that are seeing precipitation this morning are reporting rain. The low is being supported by a negatively tilted trough which is enhancing the lift out ahead of it, helping to cause the precipitation. This feature is forecasted to push eastward today and cause tonight's snow event across Southcentral. More on that below. A strengthening, expansive low over the North Pacific well south of Shemya will be the primary weather maker across the Bering for the next several days. The warming winds from yesterday that diminished overnight have allowed temperatures to fall back into the 30s for most areas around Anchorage, with 20s being reported further north. && .MODEL DISCUSSION... The models are in good agreement with the tracks of the low and precipitation timing with the next snow event moving into Southcentral this evening. However, differences that are causing big challenges continue to be timing the changeover of precipitation from rain over to snow, when the heaviest snow moves into different parts of Southcentral, how quickly it ends, and where and how strong the strongest winds will be around the low moving into the Aleutians. Thus, while confidence is high on a continuing active weather pattern, confidence in the aforementioned details remains fairly low. && .AVIATION... PANC... The winds will increase again this morning out of the southeast off of the mountains. While these are expected to remain below wind shear criteria and above 2,000 ft, they may approach the criteria at times today. This evening, the winds will taper off as precipitation moves in. It appears most likely to begin as a rain and snow mix this evening, then turn to all snow and increase in intensity overnight before diminishing early Monday morning. IFR to briefly LIFR conditions are possible during the heaviest snow. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)... A front associated with the low in the eastern Bering is tracking toward Southcentral Alaska with it impacting the Kenai Peninsula by this afternoon. Many of the southern areas of Southcentral Alaska will start as rain when the front moves in. However, they will gradually transition over to snow with coastal locations holding on to warmer temps through much of tonight. The most challenging part of the forecast is identifying when the rain will fully transition to snow. The track of the front makes for a good setup for potentially heavy snow in areas from Anchorage north into the Susitna Valley. The heaviest snowfall looks to be in the late evening but will last into Monday morning before tapering off for these areas. Snow will last through the morning for eastern portions of Southcentral Alaska before ridging builds in from the west. Clearing caused by the ridging will be short lived as another front will push up from the southwest Monday night, when it will bring rain to Kodiak Island. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 and 2/Sunday and Monday)... Currently, the last low of the quick succession of lows is moving through southwest AK, bringing rain showers and warmer temps with it. Temperatures will cool down after the exit of this frontal system, with highs back below freezing for inland areas tomorrow. This is due to a shortwave ridge that will work its way across the region later today and tonight, offering a break in the weather. Monday will again see the influence of low pressure, with winds becoming strong out of the southeast. Precipitation will also move in, as the outer band of a large low pressure system moving into the central Aleutians reaches the coast. Temperatures are such that the rain/snow line will setup right along the coast, with a chance of freezing precip in some coastal areas. Temperatures will stay cold enough inland to keep precip as snow. This low will be the dominant weather feature for early next week. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2/ Sunday and Monday)... The compact low moving through the eastern Bering will quickly exit today. Behind it, a shortwave ridge of high pressure will slide eastward across the Aleutians and Bering Sea the next couple of days, offering some respite from the succession of lows that has been passing over the eastern Aleutians. However, a large and powerful low will be moving into the Bering Sea the next couple of days. Its impacts will begin to be felt later today in the western Aleutians, with storm force winds and gusts to 75mph in the forecast for tonight. This storm will slowly work eastward through Monday, with the low center tracking right along the Aleutian Islands. The storm will slowly weaken as it goes, but large swaths of gale force winds can be expected through most of the Bering Sea and all along the Aleutian Island Chain. This low will be the dominant weather feature for the next several days. && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7)... The forecast period commences with a longwave trough spanning from the central Bering to the North Pacific and a high amplitude ridge over the Gulf Of Alaska extending into the Yukon Territory. The GFS/ECMWF and Canadian all ping into several potent shortwaves embedded in the upper level trough. At the surface, there is a deep mature low near the central Aleutians, however the GFS has the surface low south of Nikolski at 12Z Wednesday and the ECMWF has the surface low near St. Paul at 12Z Wednesday. Additionally, to the west, the same models are out of sync with the cyclone over the Sea of Okhotsk. As time elapses, expect this eastern low to rapidly decay. The GFS continues to keep the remnants south of the Chain and the ECMWF keeps it quasi- stationary over the Bering. With the cyclone near Russia, the GFS is more bullish bringing it into the Bering. By late Thursday/Friday the next round of cyclogenesis is well under way in the vicinity of the Gulf of Alaska. The intensity and the track of this new low is present on both the GFS and ECMWF but the timing is slightly off. Generally expecting a progressive and active pattern. && .AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PUBLIC...Winter Weather Advisory 101 111 145 MARINE...Gale 150 155 160 165 170 171 179>181 185 411 412. Storm 172>178 413 414. && SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...DK SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...JPW SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...BJB LONG TERM...PJS
The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 3:26 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Dec 1, 3:37 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Dec 1, 3:37 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Dec 1, 3:37 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Dec 1, 3:37 PM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Dec 1, 3:37 PM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Dec 1, 4:00 PM AKST | Winter Weather Advisory | AFC | 38 hr | |
| Dec 2, 3:50 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 60 hr | |
| Dec 2, 3:50 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Dec 2, 3:50 AM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Dec 2, 2:56 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 49 hr | |
| Dec 2, 2:56 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 3 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.