Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2019

Gale Warning 672, NWS Anchorage, AK

December 11, 2019

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Dec 11, 2019, 3:09 PM AKST. It was in force for 4 days. 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 11, 2019, 3:09 PM AKST (00:09 UTC)
Expired
Dec 15, 2019, 3:41 PM AKST
In force
4 days
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

870 
FZAK61 PAFC 120009
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
309 PM AKST Wed Dec 11 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.

PKZ399-121345-
309 PM AKST Wed Dec 11 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 963 mb North Pacific low at 53N 148W Wed afternoon will move to
56N 149W at 975 mb Thu afternoon. The low will then move to 58N 
150W at 992 mb Fri afternoon. 

$$

PKZ351-121345-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
309 PM AKST Wed Dec 11 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...E wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 18 to 22 ft.
.THU...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 13 to 19 ft. Rain.
.FRI...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...SE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 18 ft.

$$

PKZ352-121345-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
309 PM AKST Wed Dec 11 2019

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 17 to 20 ft. Rain showers.
.THU...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.

$$
8 follow-up statements
162 
FZAK61 PAFC 121256
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
356 AM AKST Thu Dec 12 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.

PKZ399-130145-
356 AM AKST Thu Dec 12 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...A 968 mb low at 54N 149W
moves to 58N 149W at 980 mb Thu night and then moves inland Fri 
night. A front approaches the western Gulf Fri night.

$$

PKZ351-130145-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
356 AM AKST Thu Dec 12 2019

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 18 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 17 ft. Rain.
.FRI...S to E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 18 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft.

$$

PKZ352-130145-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
356 AM AKST Thu Dec 12 2019

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...

.TODAY...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 14 to 19 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SW wind 20 to 35 kt...except variable wind to 20 kt W of
148W in the evening. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...SW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 11 to 18 ft.

$$
325 
FZAK61 PAFC 130053
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
353 PM AKST Thu Dec 12 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.

PKZ399-131415-
353 PM AKST Thu Dec 12 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 974 mb low at 56N 148W moves inland near 59N 151W at 1002 mb Sat 
morning. A second front moves into the western Gulf Sat afternoon.

$$

PKZ351-131415-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
353 PM AKST Thu Dec 12 2019

.TONIGHT...SE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 17 ft. Rain.
.FRI...S wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 18 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...S wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.

$$

PKZ352-131415-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
353 PM AKST Thu Dec 12 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...SW wind 15 to 30 kt increasing to 25 to 40 kt after
midnight. Seas 13 to 21 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SW wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 18 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.TUE...S wind up to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft.

$$
600 
FZAK61 PAFC 131240
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
340 AM AKST Fri Dec 13 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.

PKZ399-140145-
340 AM AKST Fri Dec 13 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...A 980 mb low at 57N
150W moves inland Fri night. A front approaches the western Gulf Fri
night and reaches the central Gulf Sat afternoon. A 975 mb low 
reaches 52N 160W Sat night.

$$

PKZ351-140145-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
340 AM AKST Fri Dec 13 2019

.TODAY...SE to SW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 12 to 18 ft. Rain showers.
.TONIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft. Rain.
.SAT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 20 ft.
.MON...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.

$$

PKZ352-140145-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
340 AM AKST Fri Dec 13 2019

...GALE WARNING TODAY AND SATURDAY...

.TODAY...SW wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Rain showers.
.TONIGHT...S wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 10 to 17 ft.
.SUN...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 19 ft.
.MON...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 18 ft.
.TUE...S wind up to 15 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.

$$
758 
FZAK61 PAFC 140049
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
349 PM AKST Fri Dec 13 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.

PKZ399-141400-
349 PM AKST Fri Dec 13 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 990 mb low at 58N 150W weakens to a trough over Cook Inlet Sat 
morning. A 982 mb North Pacific low Sat night moves to 56N 158W 
at 973 mb Sun afternoon.

$$

PKZ351-141400-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
349 PM AKST Fri Dec 13 2019

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft. Rain.
.SAT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft. Rain.
.SUN...E wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 22 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 20 ft.
.MON...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.WED...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.

$$

PKZ352-141400-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
349 PM AKST Fri Dec 13 2019

...GALE WARNING SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt increasing to 25 to 40 kt after
midnight. Seas 10 to 18 ft. Rain.
.SUN...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 22 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 14 to 17 ft.
.MON...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft.
.TUE...S wind up to 15 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.WED...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft.

$$
208 
FZAK61 PAFC 141256
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
356 AM AKST Sat Dec 14 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.

PKZ399-150130-
356 AM AKST Sat Dec 14 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...A front in the western
Gulf reaches the central Gulf Sat night. The front strengthens as it
nears the northern Gulf coast and remains in place through Sun 
night. A second low forms near 55N 154W at 980 mb Sun night.

$$

PKZ351-150130-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
356 AM AKST Sat Dec 14 2019

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...

.TODAY...SE wind increasing to 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...E wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft. Rain.
.SUN...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 21 ft. Rain.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 21 ft.
.MON...SE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.WED...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.

$$

PKZ352-150130-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
356 AM AKST Sat Dec 14 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TODAY...S to SE wind increasing to 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. 
Rain.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt increasing to 25 to 35 kt after
midnight. Seas 10 to 17 ft. Rain.
.SUN...SE wind 25 to 40 kt diminishing to 10 to 25 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 13 to 18 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 14 to 17 ft.
.MON THROUGH WED...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.

$$
118 
FZAK61 PAFC 150027
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
327 PM AKST Sat Dec 14 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.

PKZ399-151430-
327 PM AKST Sat Dec 14 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 971 mb North Pacific low Sat night moves to 56N 157W at 970 mb 
then moves to 54N 151W at 980 mb by Mon afternoon.

$$

PKZ351-151430-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
327 PM AKST Sat Dec 14 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...E wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft. Rain.
.SUN...E wind 40 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas 15 to 22
ft.
Rain.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt diminishing to up to 15 kt after
midnight. Seas 15 to 20 ft.
.MON...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 12 to 15 ft.
.MON NIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.

$$

PKZ352-151430-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
327 PM AKST Sat Dec 14 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt increasing to 25 to 35 kt after
midnight. Seas 10 to 17 ft. Rain.
.SUN...SE wind 25 to 40 kt becoming S 10 to 20 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 15 to 18 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.MON...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.MON NIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 12 to 17 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.

$$
674 
FZAK61 PAFC 151218
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
318 AM AKST Sun Dec 15 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.

PKZ399-160215-
318 AM AKST Sun Dec 15 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A storm force front in the central Gulf lifts to the northern Gulf 
Sun night. A 977 mb low at 55N 159W Sun night weakens over the 
central Gulf Mon evening. A front enters the western Gulf Mon night.

$$

PKZ351-160215-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
318 AM AKST Sun Dec 15 2019

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...E wind 40 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas 15 to
21 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt diminishing to up to 15 kt after
midnight. Seas 14 to 20 ft.
.MON...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.MON NIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 14 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.

$$

PKZ352-160215-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
318 AM AKST Sun Dec 15 2019

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 25 to 40 kt becoming S 10 to 20 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 16 to 19 ft.
.TONIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.MON...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 17 ft.
.MON NIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 12 to 17 ft.
.TUE...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.

$$
462 
FZAK61 PAFC 160041
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
341 PM AKST Sun Dec 15 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.

PKZ399-161400-
341 PM AKST Sun Dec 15 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A front along the northern Gulf stalls through Monday and
diminishes by Monday night. A second front moves across the
southern Gulf Tuesday morning and moves to the coast in the
afternoon. 

$$

PKZ351-161400-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
341 PM AKST Sun Dec 15 2019

.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt becoming S up to 15 kt after 
midnight. Seas 14 to 20 ft.
.MON...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 12 to 15 ft.
.MON NIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft.
.FRI...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.

$$

PKZ352-161400-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
341 PM AKST Sun Dec 15 2019

.TONIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.MON...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 14 to 17 ft.
.MON NIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 16 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 13 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 18 ft.
.FRI...W wind 20 kt. Seas 7 to 10 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 11, 8:58 AM AKST, 6 hours 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 11, 8:58 AM AKST, 6 hours 11 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
858 AM AKST Wed Dec 11 2019

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

The upper flow is dominated by a cold upper trough over the
central Bering Sea, an upper level ridge axis which is building
across Southern Mainland Alaska, and a large occluded low moving
north into the Gulf of Alaska. A deformation zone aloft is
sandwiched in between the North Pacific low and the cold upper
trough over the Bering Sea, and this feature is already
moving/spreading precipitation into Bristol Bay and the western
Alaska Range. At the surface, westerly cold air advection and near
gale force winds dominate most of the Bering Sea with a stronger
gale force front moving north through the Gulf of Alaska in
association with the NPAC low. This is promoting mostly offshore
flow across the southern Mainland coasts, which is also promoting
dry weather over Southcentral and interior locations. Beyond some
patchy fog and patchy stratus (more extensive over the Copper
Basin), weather remains much quieter than recent days/weeks.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
The numerical model guidance is in excellent agreement with the
large scale synoptic pattern as well as the sensible weather
impacts over land and marine through Saturday. Forecast confidence
is high.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...There remains a slight chance that fog or IFR stratus
reforms at the terminal this morning, but that threat seems to be
decreasing as higher cloud cover and weak northerly flow are
limiting cooling over Knik Arm and across Anchorage. Any fog would
likely be short-lived and it is more likely that VFR conditions
prevail, along with less than 12 kt northerly winds.

&&
.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...
A broad area of low pressure will slowly slide northward from the
North Pacific into the Gulf of AK. This system will dominate the
weather across the area for the next couple of days. It will
create cyclonic (counter-clockwise) flow across the entire Gulf
and into the Gulf Coast. These winds over the marine zones will
be the strongest today (40-50 mph) before slowly diminishing Thu and
into Fri. They will remain rather strong along the north Gulf Coast
(barrier jet region) and down through Cook Inlet. The general
pressure gradient will continue to switch to offshore through the
day today. This should help any fog/low stratus to dissipate as
drier air feeds into the area. Several waves of energy will spin
around this system as well. Each one will bring more rain from
Kodiak Island up through Western Prince William Sound. Nearly all
inland locations will remain downsloped thanks to cross-barrier
flow, so expect mostly dry conditions to persist.

By late Thu-Fri, the vertically stacked low will draw closer and
closer to the coast. As it does so, some models are hinting at a
slightly stronger wave of energy working up from Cordova through
the Copper River Basin. This looks to be the next best chance for
some precipitation to move inland. Even that system still looks
very weak with only minimal snow accumulations at best in the
Copper River Basin.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 and 2)...

The main weather phenomena across Southwest Alaska today is a
deformation band that is setting up over the Alaska Peninsula and
into the Southwest coast. Most areas in interior Bristol Bay will
see rain as this warm system moves in, with heaviest
precipitation amounts along the coast west of Dillingham.
Meanwhile, areas farther north in the Kuskokwim Delta will see
mostly snow or a wintry mix, with possible freezing rain,
extending from coastal areas inland towards Bethel. This band will
shift slightly westward throughout the day over the eastern
Bering. A showery pattern will remain on Thursday through Friday
as the deformation band sticks around, but it is less certain if
it will be positioned over inland locations or the water.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 and 2)...

Cold air advection over the western Bering will help keep small
craft advisory winds in the forecast through Thursday morning.
Looking towards the east, a strong North Pacific low will help
keep strong winds across the eastern Bering. The area of highest winds
will be over the Alaska Peninsula which could cause typical
northerly gap winds. Synoptic scale gale force winds south of the
AK Peninsula are also expected through Thursday morning when the low
begins to exit this region. While the eastern Bering starts to see
winds diminishing by Thursday afternoon, the next system begins to
enter the western Bering and Aleutians.

&&

.MARINE (Days 3 through 5)...

...Bering Sea and Aleutian Coastal Waters...

A rapidly deepening area of low pressure will move from the North
Pacific on Friday to near Atka by Saturday morning. This feature
will send a frontal boundary into the south central Bering Sea
during Saturday morning, with the low bottoming out near 960 mb.
Some sustained gales will likely accompany these features, with
gusts just short of storm force likely, especially out of bays and
passes. This system then moves off to the east southeast by
Sunday afternoon.

Given a long fetch length, look for seas to build into the 20 to 25
foot range south of the Aleutian Chain during the forecast period.
For the remainder of the region, winds look to remain below gales
with seas less than 15 feet expected.

...Gulf of Alaska...

An area of low pressure will move into the southwestern Gulf by
Friday morning, with sustained gales developing for the eastern
Kenai Peninsula coast and eastward towards the Copper River
Delta. Sustained gales are also likely across the southern Gulf.
This low then slowly reaches Kodiak Island Saturday while
weakening, before moving into southwest Alaska on Sunday and
dissipating. As a result, area wide winds will decrease to small
craft criteria near the coast on Saturday, and remain below
headlines for Sunday.

As for your waves, they look to be highest across the eastern
half of the outer waters, where they'll peak in the 20 to 25 foot
range Friday, dropping further for the weekend.

&&

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

Models have come into better, though not perfect, agreement for
the long term. Expect a continued active pattern over the
Aleutians through the end of the weekend, while quieter weather
will persist over Southcentral. Friday, a low in the western Gulf
of AK will continue to swing a series of weak fronts toward the
North Gulf Coast, bringing periods of precipitation through the
end of the weekend. Precipitation will be concentrated on
southeast facing slopes, particularly on Kodiak Island, the Kenai
Peninsula and the Alaska/Aleutian Range. Meanwhile, surface high
pressure over the Yukon and interior AK will strengthen, and
conditions will trend colder over inland areas of the Southern
Mainland.

Out west, a strong low south of the central Aleutians will swing
an occluded front across the chain and generate a healthy round of
precipitation over the Aleutians and likely into the Southwest
Mainland Saturday night into Sunday. Precipitation chances look
highest in the Bristol Bay area, with the Kuskokwim Valley/Delta
likely staying drier in offshore flow. However, it's hard to have
much certainty this far out and with run-to-run model
inconsistencies. Another low will approach the western Aleutians
Monday, bringing another round of precipitation and active
weather.

In short, expect temperatures to trend colder through the long
term, especially for interior areas. With each system,
precipitation will progress from the Aleutians toward
Southcentral.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...Gales 119 120 130 131 132 136-139 150 155.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...JA
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...MSO
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...ALH
MARINE/LONG TERM...PD/MM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 11, 3:08 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC13 hr
Dec 11, 3:33 PM AKSTGale WarningAFC9 days
Dec 11, 3:33 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Dec 12, 3:32 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC7 days
Dec 12, 3:32 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Dec 12, 4:02 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC59 hr
Dec 12, 4:02 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC5 days
Dec 12, 7:18 AM AKSTGale WarningAFC9 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.