Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2019

Gale Warning 663, NWS Anchorage, AK

December 2, 2019

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Dec 2, 2019, 3:33 PM AKST. It was in force for 36 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, 2019, 3:33 PM AKST (00:33 UTC)
Expired
Dec 4, 2019, 3:11 AM AKST
In force
36 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

828 
FZAK61 PAFC 030033
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
333 PM AKST Mon Dec 2 2019

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.

PKZ399-031430-
333 PM AKST Mon Dec 2 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 980 mb low at 60N 144W loops to 59N 139W at 1007 mb for Wed
afternoon. Its front wraps over the North Gulf Coast through Wed
afternoon. A 1010 mb low forms on the front near 56N 157W Wed
morning and moves to 56N 150W by Wed afternoon.

$$

PKZ351-031430-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
333 PM AKST Mon Dec 2 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft.
.TUE...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.WED...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.THU THROUGH FRI...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 8 ft.
.SAT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft.

$$

PKZ352-031430-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
333 PM AKST Mon Dec 2 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 17 to 25 ft.
.TUE...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.WED...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.THU THROUGH FRI...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.SAT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.

$$
3 follow-up statements
240 
FZAK61 PAFC 031214
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
314 AM AKST Tue Dec 3 2019

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.

PKZ399-040230-
314 AM AKST Tue Dec 3 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 990 mb low at 59N 147W Tue morning moves to 57N 140W at 997 mb
Tue night. A 1004 mb low at 59N 148W Tue night moves to 58N 149W
at 1010 mb Wed afternoon. 

$$

PKZ351-040230-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
314 AM AKST Tue Dec 3 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 13 to 20 ft.
.TONIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.WED...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.THU THROUGH FRI...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 8 ft.
.SAT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft.

$$

PKZ352-040230-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
314 AM AKST Tue Dec 3 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.TONIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.WED...W wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.THU THROUGH FRI...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.SAT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.

$$
327 
FZAK61 PAFC 040035
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
335 PM AKST Tue Dec 3 2019

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.

PKZ399-041400-
335 PM AKST Tue Dec 3 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 996 mb low at 58N 145W moves inland near 58N 137W at 1006 mb Wed
morning. Its front wraps over the North Gulf Coast through Thu
afternoon. A second front enters the Western Gulf Wed morning and
moves to the Eastern Gulf Thu afternoon. A 1003 mb low forms near
58N 151W by Thu afternoon.

$$

PKZ351-041400-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
335 PM AKST Tue Dec 3 2019

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.WED...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.THU...SW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.FRI...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.SAT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft.
.SUN...S wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 16 to 22 ft.

$$

PKZ352-041400-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
335 PM AKST Tue Dec 3 2019

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.WED...W wind 20 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.THU...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.FRI...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft.
.SAT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.SUN...S wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft.

$$
648 
FZAK61 PAFC 041211
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
311 AM AKST Wed Dec 4 2019

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.

PKZ399-050230-
311 AM AKST Wed Dec 4 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 1005 mb low at 59N 148W moves to 58N 146W at 1008 mb by Wed
night, then to 59N 140W at 1010 mb Thu night. A 1003 mb low forms
near 58N 152W Thu afternoon.

$$

PKZ351-050230-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
311 AM AKST Wed Dec 4 2019

.TODAY...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.TONIGHT...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.THU...SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 8 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.FRI...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.SAT...S wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 16 to 22 ft.

$$

PKZ352-050230-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
311 AM AKST Wed Dec 4 2019

.TODAY...W wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.TONIGHT...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.THU...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.FRI...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.SAT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 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, 4:01 AM AKST, 11 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 2, 4:01 AM AKST, 11 hours 32 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
401 AM AKST Mon Dec 2 2019

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

A vertically stacked low remains situated in the northwestern
Bering. Cold air wrapped around the low traveling over warmer
waters, combined with upper support of the low continue to trigger
showers over much of the Bering and Aleutians. A surface trough
is bringing an area of enhanced showers to the eastern Bering and
Kuskokwim Delta coast; its axis is oriented north to south roughly
from Nunivak Island to Nelson Lagoon and shifting eastward.
Looking farther east, patchy fog is forming in the Kuskokwim Delta
under clear skies and high pressure in the low levels. In
Southcentral, the general focus continues to be on a low in the
northern Gulf. This low steered a warm front into the North Gulf
Coast, bringing widespread rain to Prince William Sound and areas
of snow to the Anchorage Bowl and Kenai Peninsula. On the back
side of the low, northwest gales over the Barren Islands have been
observed.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

The main challenge in the forecast is with snowfall in
Southcentral. Models have been consistent over the past two runs,
keeping the North Gulf low a bit too far east for the Anchorage
Bowl to have a heavy snow event. However, cold air advection
should be strong enough to bring several inches. See the
Southcentral discussion below for further details.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...Snow will continue to bring vsby to IFR. Confidence
continues to be moderate regarding snow amounts given easterly
location of driving low, thus it's possible that vsby will
periodically improve to MVFR or VFR.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
A triple point low center which moved to the North Gulf coast this
morning will slowly weaken and then drift south over the Gulf
tonight through Tuesday. In the meantime, broad upper troughing
and cold advection across Cook Inlet will keep moderate snow
potential across the Western Kenai Peninsula through this
afternoon. Snow across the Matanuska Valley overall should be
fairly light with only minor accumulations expected through
tonight. The advisory for snow in the Anchorage Bowl is looking a
little more suspect this morning with the lack of strong dynamics
and low level moisture feed. However, will keep the advisory up
and wait and see what impact the cold advection has when it works
in the morning. Highest snow totals may end up over west and
south Anchorage. Moderate snow potential over the Copper River
Basin will be mostly over the southern and western Basin. Snow
will diminish in most areas tonight, but will linger around until
the upper trough drops south. A drying and cooling trend is
expected through Tuesday.

Storm force westerly winds across the Barren
Island marine zones and western Gulf will slowly diminish tonight
but will maintain gale strength through Tuesday. Outflow wind
conditions over the eastern Kenai Peninsula and across the north
Gulf coast will strengthen today and remain fairly gusty through
Tuesday.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
Light snow showers will linger along the coast into Tuesday
morning as a frontal boundary stalls near the coast. Weak ridging
sits over the Kuskokwim Delta which has helped with fog developing
over the area. As the sun comes up, and temperatures rise, the
fog will dissipate leaving mostly clear skies into the afternoon
before cloud cover moves in from the west. For the Lower Kuskokwim
Valley, clear skies will persist allowing for temperatures to
drop below 0 tonight and Tuesday night.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2)...
Low pressure over the Bering will keep the southern Bering and
Aleutians with westerly winds and scattered showers through today.
A second low, south of the western Aleutians, will track east
through tonight bringing heavier precipitation to the islands as
it passes. On Tuesday, a new system will push in from the west
with its front making it to the western Aleutians Tuesday morning.
The front will first bring snow to the area but is pulling up
enough warm air for the snow to switch over to rain. The front
will then make it to the Pribilof Islands and eastern Aleutians by
Wednesday morning.

&&

.MARINE (Days 3-5)...

The forecast period commences with weak cyclonic flow over the
Gulf Of Alaska, a ridge axis over the central Aleutians and a
Kamchatka low impacting the western Bering. This pattern will push
eastward Wednesday and Thursday. The primary marine hazard area
will be gales over the western Bering. There is also the potential
for heavy freezing spray near Nunivak Island and over the northern
Bering.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3-7)...

The models are struggling in the long term forecast period but
there are a couple of consensus items with the global models. The
longwave pattern will feature troughing over the Bering and the
ridge axis will move into southwest Alaska and southcentral
Alaska. There are multiple shortwaves embedded in the upper
trough. It's a very dynamic and unsettled pattern for the Bering.
However, with the high amplitude ridge in place over much of the
mainland expect a more stable pattern and southcentral should get
a break from the precipitation for a few days.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...Winter Weather Advisory: 101 121 141
MARINE...Gales: 119 120 132 137 138 172 173 174 175 176 177 178
411 412 413
Storms: 130 131 351 352.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...MM
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...BC
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...DK
MARINE/LONG TERM...PJS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 2, 12:37 PM AKST, 2 hours 56 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1237 PM AKST MON DEC 2 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0836 AM     SNOW             1 NW GLEN ALPS          61.12N 149.71W
12/02/2019  M4.0 INCH                           AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OVERNIGHT TOTAL. 1/2SM VIS. TEMP 20F.

0836 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 ESE KENAI             60.53N 151.11W
12/02/2019  M9.8 INCH                           AK   PUBLIC

            OVERNIGHT TOTAL.

&&

KUTZ
Local storm report, Dec 2, 2:31 PM AKST, 1 hour 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
231 PM AKST MON DEC 2 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0122 PM     SNOW             1 NW GLEN ALPS          61.12N 149.71W
12/02/2019  M5.0 INCH                           AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            UPDATED STORM TOTAL 5 INCHES. TEMP 19F

0217 PM     SNOW             1 SW SUTTON             61.71N 148.90W
12/02/2019  M0.5 INCH                           AK   PUBLIC

            6 HR SNOWFALL

&&

KUTZ
Local storm report, Dec 2, 2:34 PM AKST, 59 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
234 PM AKST MON DEC 2 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0221 PM     SNOW             2 SE EAGLE RIVER        61.30N 149.52W
12/02/2019  M1.0 INCH                           AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            8-HR SNOWFALL 1 INCH. STORM TOTAL 2 INCHES.

&&

KUTZ
Local storm report, Dec 2, 2:58 PM AKST, 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
258 PM AKST MON DEC 2 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0250 PM     SNOW             2 N MCHUGH CREEK RECREA 61.04N 149.72W
12/02/2019  M3.0 INCH                           AK   PUBLIC

            STORM TOTAL

&&

KUTZ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 2, 3:38 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC48 hr
Dec 2, 3:56 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC6 days
Dec 2, 3:56 PM AKSTStorm WarningAFC24 hr
Dec 3, 3:01 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC8 days
Dec 3, 3:01 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Dec 3, 3:12 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC36 hr
Dec 3, 3:12 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2019Every gale warning in 2019

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.