Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2019
Gale Warning 663, NWS Anchorage, AK
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.
&&
KUTZLocal 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
&&
KUTZLocal 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.
&&
KUTZLocal 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
&&
KUTZThe office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2, 3:38 PM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Dec 2, 3:56 PM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 6 days | |
| Dec 2, 3:56 PM AKST | Storm Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| Dec 3, 3:01 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 8 days | |
| Dec 3, 3:01 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 12 hr | |
| Dec 3, 3:12 AM AKST | Gale Warning | AFC | 36 hr | |
| Dec 3, 3:12 AM AKST | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 24 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.