Alert archive / Alaska / Storm Warnings in 2019

Storm Warning 122, NWS Anchorage, AK

October 14, 2019

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this storm warning at Oct 14, 2019, 3:51 PM AKDT. It was in force for 16 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 14, 2019, 3:51 PM AKDT (23:51 UTC)
Expired
Oct 15, 2019, 8:14 AM AKDT
In force
16 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

476 
FZAK62 PAFC 142351
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
351 PM AKDT Mon Oct 14 2019

Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea

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.

PKZ499-151315-
351 PM AKDT Mon Oct 14 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 954 mb low at 58N 175W moves ashore in western Siberia by Tue
afternoon at 961 mb. A strengthening 985 mb Kamchatka low at 54N 
170E moves to 55N 177E at 968 mb by Tue afternoon then moves to 
59N 164W at 974 mb by Wed afternoon.

$$

PKZ411-151315-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
351 PM AKDT Mon Oct 14 2019

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W wind 45 to 60 kt diminishing to 35 to 50 kt after
midnight. Seas 18 to 33 ft.
.TUE...W wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft. Widespread rain
showers.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. Isolated
thunderstorms.
.WED...W wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 19 to 24 ft. Isolated thunderstorms
during the morning.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 21 ft.
.THU THROUGH SAT...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.

$$

PKZ412-151315-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
351 PM AKDT Mon Oct 14 2019

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W wind 50 to 65 kt. Seas 28 to 43 ft. Rain.
.TUE...W wind 40 to 55 kt becoming SW 20 to 35 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 26 to 37 ft subsiding to 18 to 27 ft in the 
afternoon.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 25 ft.
.WED...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft.
.THU...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.

$$

PKZ413-151315-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
351 PM AKDT Mon Oct 14 2019

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT AND TUESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W wind 45 to 60 kt diminishing to 40 to 50 kt after
midnight. Seas 30 to 45 ft.
.TUE...SW wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 22 to 33 ft. Widespread rain
showers.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind 40 to 55 kt. Seas 21 to 33 ft.
.WED...W wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 21 to 25 ft. Isolated thunderstorms.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 19 to 23 ft.
.THU...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft.

$$

PKZ414-151315-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
351 PM AKDT Mon Oct 14 2019

...STORM WARNING TUESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 16 to 31 ft building to 22 to
37 ft after midnight. Rain.
.TUE...W wind 30 to 40 kt becoming SW 20 to 30 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 19 to 33 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...S wind 25 to 40 kt becoming SW 35 to 50 kt after
midnight. Seas 15 to 21 ft building to 16 to 31 ft after midnight.
Widespread rain showers.
.WED...W wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 16 to 31 ft. Isolated thunderstorms S
of 57N.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft.
.THU...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.

$$
2 follow-up statements
782 
FZAK62 PAFC 151143
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
343 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019

Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea

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.

PKZ499-160100-
343 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 958 mb low at 60N 175W moves to 59N 175E at 971 mb Wed morning 
before moving to 59N 174W at 984 mb Thu morning. A 987 mb low at 
51N 170E moves to 56N 169W at 968 mb Wed morning and then moves to
56N 165W at 977 mb Thu morning.

$$

PKZ411-160100-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
343 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft. Widespread rain
showers.
.TONIGHT...W wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft.
.WED...W wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 19 to 24 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 21 ft.
.THU THROUGH SAT...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.

$$

PKZ412-160100-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
343 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...W wind 40 to 55 kt becoming SW 20 to 35 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 26 to 37 ft subsiding to 18 to 27 ft in the
afternoon.
.TONIGHT...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 25 ft.
.WED...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft.
.THU THROUGH FRI...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.SAT...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.

$$

PKZ413-160100-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
343 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SW wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 22 to 33 ft. Widespread rain
showers.
.TONIGHT...W wind 40 to 55 kt. Seas 21 to 33 ft.
.WED...W wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 21 to 25 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 19 to 23 ft.
.THU...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.

$$

PKZ414-160100-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
343 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 30 to 40 kt becoming SW 20 to 30 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 19 to 33 ft.
.TONIGHT...S wind 25 to 40 kt becoming SW 40 to 55 kt after
midnight. Seas 15 to 21 ft building to 16 to 31 ft after midnight.
Widespread rain showers.
.WED...W wind 40 to 55 kt diminishing to 30 to 40 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 16 to 31 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft.
.THU...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft.
.FRI...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.SAT...W wind 10 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.

$$
347 
FZAK62 PAFC 151614 AAA
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast...UPDATED
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
814 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019

Updated zones 413 414

Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea

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.

PKZ499-160315-
814 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 958 mb low at 60N 175W moves to 59N 175E at 971 mb Wed morning 
before moving to 59N 174W at 984 mb Thu morning. A 987 mb low at 
51N 170E moves to 56N 169W at 968 mb Wed morning and then moves to
56N 165W at 977 mb Thu morning.

$$

PKZ411-160315-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
814 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019

...GALE WARNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft. Widespread rain
showers. 
.TONIGHT...W wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. 
.WED...W wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 19 to 24 ft. 
.WED NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 21 ft. 
.THU THROUGH SAT...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.

$$

PKZ412-160315-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
814 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...W wind 40 to 55 kt becoming SW 20 to 35 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 26 to 37 ft subsiding to 18 to 27 ft in the
afternoon. 
.TONIGHT...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 25 ft. 
.WED...W wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft. 
.WED NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft. 
.THU THROUGH FRI...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. 
.SAT...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.

$$

PKZ413-160315-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
814 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SW wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 22 to 33 ft. Widespread rain
showers. 
.TONIGHT...W wind 70 kt except 40 to 55 kt south of 54N. Seas 24 
to 36 ft.
.WED...W wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 21 to 25 ft. 
.WED NIGHT...W wind 30 to 40 kt. Seas 19 to 23 ft. 
.THU...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. 
.FRI THROUGH SAT...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.

$$

PKZ414-160315-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
814 AM AKDT Tue Oct 15 2019

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...W wind 30 to 40 kt becoming SW 20 to 30 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 19 to 33 ft. 
.TONIGHT...S wind 25 to 40 kt becoming W 50 to 65 kt after 
midnight. N of 57N, S wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 15 to 21 ft building
to 16 to 31 ft after midnight. Widespread rain showers. 
.WED...W wind 45 to 60 kt diminishing to 30 to 40 kt in the 
afternoon. Seas 16 to 31 ft. 
.WED NIGHT...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 14 to 22 ft. 
.THU...W wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft. 
.FRI...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. 
.SAT...W wind 10 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this storm 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 storm warning went out at Oct 14, 5:00 AM AKDT, 10 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 14, 5:00 AM AKDT, 10 hours 51 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
500 AM AKDT Mon Oct 14 2019

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

The extratropical low that was once Typhoon Hagibis is finally
over Alaska waters, after multiple days of advertising. The low
crossed the western Aleutians yesterday evening and is rapidly
intensifying over the western Bering. The storm has a classic
comma shape, with the leading front having recently crossed
through Adak and Atka.

A separate smaller, but also quite visually impressive low is over
the North Pacific well south of Kodiak Island and the Alaska
Peninsula. It too has a classic comma shape. Its northern edge is
causing windy conditions with some rainy spells across Kodiak
Island and the Alaska Peninsula. Some high cloud cover associated
with the low is moving east across Bristol Bay and the southern
Alaska Peninsula.

Weatherwise most of the rest of the area is having another night
with clear skies and light winds, allowing temperatures to plummet
in those areas. 10s and 20s are common away from the coastal
areas. Meanwhile near the coast and under the high clouds,
temperatures are generally in the 30s. A broad area of stratus
clouds is trapped in the western and southern part of the Copper
River Basin.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

The models are in generally good agreement through Tuesday night.
The models are finally very well clustered regarding the future
track and strength of extratropical storm Hagibis, with the storm
expected to turn north and then northwest, with the center reaching
Eastern Russia by Tuesday evening. With the tight clustering in
the track, forecast confidence of winds and precipitation with the
storm is high.

A secondary impulse of energy zips across the Bering south of
Hagibis Tuesday evening. While the low will be much smaller, it
will also be capable of producing locally strong storm force
winds, along with 40 foot waves south of the low being aided by
dynamic fetch. There is a fair bit of disagreement between on
where the final track of this low is going to be. This will be
exceptionally important for the Pribilofs especially, because if
the center tracks north of the islands, then the full brunt of the
strong winds and high waves hits the islands. For now, the model
consensus takes the center right through the islands, which will
keep the worst conditions to the south. The compact nature of the
low and the high sensitivity of the track will require interests
in the Pribilofs to keep a close eye on future forecast updates
for this low for the Tuesday night time frame.

Across the Gulf, the models are in agreement that the low moving
through the Southern Gulf will create multiple meso-lows along its
front. The models are having a very hard time with these meso-
lows, and each could produce locally gusty winds and briefly heavy
rain, so the timing and intensity of precipitation around the Gulf
and Kodiak Island is also low confidence.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist.

&&

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

High pressure is still over Southcentral Alaska this morning, but
it is being slowly being eroded by the large low moving toward
the Gulf of Alaska from the south. This is bringing gales to the
Gulf waters and Shelikof Strait. The front associated with this
low will bring some rain to the North Gulf Coast Tuesday
afternoon as a low develops along it in the eastern Gulf and then
moves along the front to the northwest. This is the area of the
forecast with greatest uncertainty. While models are all
recognizing this feature will develop, the strength and speed of
it vary a bit. This is not a surprise as compact lows of this type
generally spin up fast and are difficult for the models to handle
until they have really begun to develop. The other item to note
is that just because this will be a rather small and compact low,
that does not necessarily mean it will be weak. It has the
potential to spread gales as far north as Hinchinbrook entrance to
Prince William Sound should it develop properly. That looks
unlikely at this point so currently forecast does not show that
solution. However, the development and movement of this low
overnight should be watched.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)...

At the onset of the forecast period expect high pressure from
Bethel to the Brooks Range. 24 hrs of dry weather are anticipated
across much of the region. Then the Bering low and the associated
frontal boundary will stall along the coast, bringing rain to
Bristol Bay and the coastline on Tuesday. However, as time elapses
the upper level high will push north of the Brooks Range which
will allow energy from the Bering to work its way into Southwest
Alaska. A second impulse from the Bering low will be ejected into
Southwest AK midweek.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3)...

The main event for the Bering and Aleutians will be the extra-
tropical remnants of Hagibis. The surface low this morning was
northwest of Adak at about 960mb. The precipitation shield spans
from the northern Bering into the north Pacific. There is high
confidence in storm force to hurricane force winds and rough seas.
The models indicate that the low will continue to deepen today
and track northeastward. Tuesday, the low will move north and then
retrograde...all the while beginning to fill. There are multiple
lobes of vorticity associated with the main upper low and
secondary impulses will impact the Aleutian chain and southern
Bering.

&&

.MARINE (Days 3 through 5)...

Bering Sea/Aleutians: As the extratropical remnants of Typhoon
Hagibis exit to the northwest Bering late Tuesday, seas will
slowly subside and winds will diminish over the central and
eastern Bering. Models have come into better agreement that a
potent secondary low that will develop over the western Aleutians
midday Tuesday. This feature will quickly track eastward across
the Bering north of the Aleutians late Tuesday into Wednesday,
likely reaching the vicinity of the Pribilof Islands Wednesday
morning. Expect an area of storm force winds just south and west
of the low's center, with a broader swath of gales in its wake.
Considering the speed and compact nature of this low, seas will be
wind wave dominant, with combined seas in the 25 to 35 foot
range. While some models have indicated brief hurricane force
gusts in that core of strongest winds, model discrepancies persist
with track and strength of the low. Thus, we didn't have the
confidence to include such strong gusts in the forecast, but it
certainly bears watching. As the cold air mass behind the
associated front moves across the warmer SSTs of the Bering,
instability will increase thus isolated thunderstorms are expected
over the southern Bering Sea Wednesday. Conditions will become
more benign Thursday, though areas of gales still won't be out of
the question. Exactly where the highest winds develop will depend
whether the remnants of Hagibis set up residence as a garden
variety low in the central Bering, or if that system weakens in
favor of the secondary low in the eastern Bering. In any case,
broad low pressure is likely in the Bering through the end of the
week.

Gulf of Alaska: Longwave troughing will continue over the
Gulf/north Pacific. An upper low will cross the AKPEN then
redevelop a surface low in the Gulf late Wednesday into
Thursday, and dive southeastward across the Gulf/North Pacific.
Exactly where that low tracks is uncertain, and depends on the
synoptic setup upstream. Given the broad range of solutions for
the preceding time frame in the Bering, will have to wait for a
few more cycles to zero in on the Gulf low placement. In any case,
expect increased winds and precipitation along this low... but
the primary impacts may be in the North Pacific.

&&

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

The excitement in the long term continues to be focused in the
Bering Sea and Aleutians. As post-tropical cyclone Hagibis exits
to the northern Bering Tuesday, focus turns to what happens in
its wake. Models have come into better agreement that a potent
low will develop in the baroclinic zone under a 160 to 170 kt jet
midday Tuesday. It will quickly traverse the southern Bering (just
north of the Aleutians) from west to east and likely bring a
brief return of winds in the 40 to 50 kt range over the Aleutians
and Pribilof Islands late Tuesday into Wednesday, with another
round of precipitation. Isolated thunderstorms are expected behind
the associated front Wednesday as modified Arctic air flows over
relatively warm water.

Meanwhile, weather continues to look relatively quiet over the
Southwest Mainland. Surface high pressure over the interior will
persist, thus offshore winds and mostly dry conditions should
prevail. As the secondary low approaches the coast, precipitation
will be possible in Bristol Bay...mainly along the coast. While
models agree that general low pressure will settle over the Bering
by the weekend, there's indication of roughly two possible
scenarios. The remnants of Hagibis could slightly restrengthen in
northwest Bering, given the healthy source of cold continental
air from eastern Siberia. Or, that secondary low could become the
dominant feature in the Bering and stall near the west coast. The
latter projection would result in a trend toward wetter weather by
the weekend over the Southwest mainland. On the other hand, should
the former situation come to fruition, the mainland will probably
continue offshore flow and cold, dry weather while cold air
advection around the backside of a Bering low triggers widespread
showers, or at least enhanced cloud cover.

Over Southcentral, surface high pressure over northern Alaska will
persist, maintaining generally dry weather and offshore winds.
Models place a series of lows in the Gulf or North Pacific later
in the week. If these lows develop far enough north, an associated
front could bring precipitation to the North Gulf Coast, or even
inland...but uncertainty remains high with these features due to
the chaotic range of nature of the upstream setup.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...Hurricane Force Wind Warning: 411, 412, 413.
Storm Warning: 173, 175-179, 181, 185.
Gale Warning: 120, 131, 132, 138, 150, 155, 165, 170, 171, 172,
			  174, 180, 351, 352, 414.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...JPW
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...EZ
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...PS
MARINE/LONG TERM...MM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 14, 3:30 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Oct 14, 3:35 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Oct 14, 3:40 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC72 hr
Oct 14, 3:40 AM AKDTStorm WarningAFC24 hr
Oct 14, 3:45 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Oct 14, 3:51 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Oct 14, 3:51 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr

Nearby

Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2019Every storm 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.