Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2018

Gale Warning 90, NWS Fairbanks, AK

October 26, 2018

NWS Fairbanks, AK issued this gale warning at Oct 26, 2018, 3:57 AM AKDT. It was in force for 24 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
Oct 26, 2018, 3:57 AM AKDT (11:57 UTC)
Expired
Oct 27, 2018, 3:58 AM AKDT
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Fairbanks, AK

The text

As transmitted.

846 
FZAK52 PAFG 261157
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
357 AM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

Northwestern Alaska Coastal Waters out 100 NM

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest one-
third of the combined wind-wave and swell height.

PKZ299-270200-
357 AM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
An arctic cold front lies from Cape Lisburne to the Bering Strait
to Nunivak Island and will persist into Sat. A 1030 mb high will 
remain over Chukotka into Sat. Broad area of low pressure will 
persist over mainland Alaska. Strong winds will persist through
the Bering Strait through Sat. A 1015 mb low will move to the 
Gulf of Anadyr Sat afternoon and to the Bering Strait by Mon 
morning. 

$$

PKZ200-270200-
Norton Sound-
357 AM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N winds 20 kt increasing to 25 kt. Seas building to 5 
ft.
.TONIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...N winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...N winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON...S winds 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ210-270200-
Dall Point to Wales-
357 AM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Fog, rain.
.TONIGHT...N winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Snow and rain. 
.SAT...N winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Fog.
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. Rain showers. 
.SUN NIGHT...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.MON...SE winds 10 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-270200-
Kotzebue Sound-
357 AM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS MORNING THROUGH EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N winds 20 kt increasing to 25 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...N winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...N winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON...N winds 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ220-270200-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
357 AM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N winds 35 kt. Seas 12 ft. Snow and rain. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Fog, snow.
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Fog and freezing fog. Freezing
spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.MON...N winds 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.  

$$

SDB Oct 18
2 follow-up statements
730 
FZAK52 PAFG 262300
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
300 PM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

Northwestern Alaska Coastal Waters out 100 NM

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest one-
third of the combined wind-wave and swell height.

PKZ299-271600-
300 PM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A weather front spanning the Chukchi Sea across the Bering Strait,
and into the Bering Sea will move slowly east and continue to hug
the coast through Saturday. A low will move over the Gulf of 
Anadyr and deepen to 1008 mb Sunday.

$$

PKZ200-271600-
Norton Sound-
300 PM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SUN...N winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...N winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. Snow showers and rain showers. 
.MON NIGHT...S winds 5 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...S winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.  

$$

PKZ210-271600-
Dall Point to Wales-
300 PM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

.TONIGHT...N winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Fog. Freezing rain. 
.SAT...N winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Fog.
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.MON...W winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 10 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED...S winds 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-271600-
Kotzebue Sound-
300 PM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...E winds 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ220-271600-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
300 PM AKDT Fri Oct 26 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

.TONIGHT...N winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Fog.
.SAT...N winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Fog.
.SAT NIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Fog.
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...E winds 10 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.WED...S winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.  

$$

Oct 18
574 
FZAK52 PAFG 271158
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
358 AM AKDT Sat Oct 27 2018

Northwestern Alaska Coastal Waters out 100 NM

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest one-
third of the combined wind-wave and swell height.

PKZ299-280215-
358 AM AKDT Sat Oct 27 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A weather front along the west coast will push inland today. A 
low will move over the Gulf of Anadyr and deepen to 1008 mb 
Sunday. This low will move over St. Lawrence Island Sunday night 
at 999 mb and will continue eastward, reaching Norton Sound 
Monday night. 

$$

PKZ200-280215-
Norton Sound-
358 AM AKDT Sat Oct 27 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...N winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.TONIGHT...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.MON...E winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Fog. Freezing spray. 
.MON NIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
spray. 
.TUE...S winds 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...S winds 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.  

$$

PKZ210-280215-
Dall Point to Wales-
358 AM AKDT Sat Oct 27 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N winds 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. Fog and freezing fog.
Freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.SUN...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Rain showers and snow showers. 
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Fog. Rain showers. 
.MON...E winds 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Fog.
.MON NIGHT...N winds 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.TUE...S winds 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED...S winds 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-280215-
Kotzebue Sound-
358 AM AKDT Sat Oct 27 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TUE...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ220-280215-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
358 AM AKDT Sat Oct 27 2018

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N winds 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing fog. Snow. Freezing
spray. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing fog. Freezing
spray. 
.SUN...N winds 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing fog. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray.
.TUE...S winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.WED...S winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.  

$$

Oct 18

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 Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Oct 25, 2:16 PM AKDT, 13 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 25, 2:16 PM AKDT, 13 hours 41 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
216 PM AKDT Thu Oct 25 2018

.SYNOPSIS...
Aloft...
Long wave pattern consisting of a trough over the Eastern Bering
Sea, Western AK and the Gulf of AK with a ridge over NW Canada and
eastern AK will persist into the weekend as a series of strong
short wave troughs and associated surface lows make their way
from the Gulf of Alaska north into the Interior. By Sun the long
wave trough will progress east over mainland AK. This means that
the the stormy pattern of the past week consisting of periods of rain,
snow, freezing rain, winds, and well above normal temperatures
will continue into Sat.

On Sunday, expect a sharp drop to near normal temperatures along
with more widespread snow. These conditions will continue into
the first several days of next week.

Surface...
A 994 mb low 100 NM north of Prudhoe Bay will move to 300 nm north
of Prudhoe Bay as a a 997 mb low by 4am Fri, to 400 NM north of
Prudhoe Bay as a 1000 mb low by 4pm Fri. An arctic cold front from
the low to Cape Lisburne to the Bering Strait to Nunivak Island
will move to Barter Island to Point Hope to Nunivak Island by 4am
Fri and then persist into Sat. Scattered snow showers and areas
of fog along the front over the North Slope will spread east to
Barter Island tonight.

Widespread rain and snow showers are occuring where the front
lies over open water from Cape Lisburne to the Bering Strait to
St Lawrence Island. This will change over to all snow late
tonight and continue in that area through Sat as the cold air
continues to flow south over the warm water and produce the snow
showers. Expect 1-3 inches of snow over these areas through Sat.
Also expect north winds 30kt along the front, with 40 kt south of
the Bering Strait.

A 960 mb low in the northwest Gulf of AK will move to to the Kenai
Pen as a 976 mb low by 4am Fri, then weaken to 985 mb low by 4pm
Fri, then weaken over the AK Pen Sat. An occluded front stretching
from the low to Skwentna to Fairbanks to Eagle will move to
McGrath to Livengood to a 994 mb low near Eagle by 4am Fri, and
Shageluk to Tanana to Circle to a 996 mb Low near Eagle by 4pm
Fri, along a Shageluk to Bettles to Circle lone by 4am Sat, then
persisting into Sat pm, and then moving east across the Eastern
Interior Sun.

There are now isolated rain and snow showers along this
front with a few freezing rain showers where rain is falling on
frozen ground. Showers will become scattered tonight and Fri north
and west of Fairbanks, and there will still be a chance of
freezing rain along and north of the front. Weak downslope winds
will develop tonight over the Tanana Valley south of the front and
persist into Fri night. This will keep the Tanana Valley from
Fairbanks East mainly dry from late tonight into Fri night.
Will see snow become more widespread along the front in the
Western and northern Interior Fri night and Sat, them spreading to
Across the Eastern INterior Sun. Expect several inches of snow in
the western and northern Interior Fri night Sat with this
feature, with several inches possible in the Eastern Interior
Sun.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Models initialize well aloft at 12Z and show similar solutions
into Sat, then see bigger differences into Sun. Some differences
in precipitation fields, so will use a combination of the
NAM/GFS/ECMF areal coverage to broaden out the area that precip
occurs which seems to be the case at this time. Favor the ECMF
solution for Sun, which is faster with the next incoming Gulf of
AK low than the other models, and brings the long wave trough east
over mainland AK on Sun more than the GFS/NAM. This will result
in cooler and wetter conditions for the Eastern Interior Sun.

At the Surface at 15Z all models initialize about 6 mb too weak
on surface low in the northern Gulf of AK. Will accommodate this
by increasing winds over Interior 3-5 kt today and tonight.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...
North winds 30g40kt from the Bering Strait to St Lawrence Island
are causing elevated seas, but rightward displacement of water
caused by the Eckman Spiral is causing lower than normal sea
levels, so waves should be breaking offshore.

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.

Gale Warning for PKZ210.
&&

JB OCT 18

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 26, 4:30 AM AKDTWind AdvisoryAFG41 hr
Oct 26, 4:35 AM AKDTWinter Storm WarningAFG37 hr
Oct 26, 2:28 PM AKDTWinter Weather AdvisoryAFG57 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.