Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2020
Gale Warning 346, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at May 11, 2020, 3:34 AM AKDT. It was in force for 48 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
- May 11, 2020, 3:34 AM AKDT (11:34 UTC)
- Expired
- May 13, 2020, 3:20 AM AKDT
- In force
- 48 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted.
796 FZAK62 PAFC 111134 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 334 AM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 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. PKZ499-120230- 334 AM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A front moves into the Western Aleutians Mon afternoon, then moves into the Central Aleutians late Mon night. The front weakens as it moves south through late Tue night. The associated 980 mb low near 50N 166E Mon afternoon moves to 51N 175E late Mon night, then moves to 48N 175W late Tue night. $$ PKZ411-120230- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 334 AM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND TUESDAY... .TODAY...S wind 10 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas 7 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain. .TUE...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .TUE NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .WED THROUGH FRI...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. $$ PKZ412-120230- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 334 AM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 .TODAY...SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. .TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. .TUE...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. .TUE NIGHT...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. .WED THROUGH FRI...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. $$ PKZ413-120230- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 334 AM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 ...GALE WARNING TUESDAY... .TODAY...SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .TONIGHT...S wind up to 20 kt becoming SE 15 to 30 kt after midnight. Seas 4 to 8 ft. .TUE...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .TUE NIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .WED THROUGH FRI...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. $$ PKZ414-120230- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 334 AM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 .TODAY...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind up to 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. .TUE...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .TUE NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .WED...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .THU THROUGH FRI...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. $$
4 follow-up statements
585 FZAK62 PAFC 112316 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 316 PM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-121245- 316 PM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 978 mb low at 49N 167E moves into the North Pacific at 986 mb for Wed afternoon. Its front moves across the Aleutians through Wed afternoon. A 1003 mb low forms near 63N 165W Tue morning and moves with its front to 61N 176W at 1008 mb by Wed afternoon. $$ PKZ411-121245- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 316 PM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY... .TONIGHT...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Rain. .TUE...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .TUE NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .WED...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. .WED NIGHT...N wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .THU THROUGH SAT...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft. $$ PKZ412-121245- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 316 PM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 .TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .TUE...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. .TUE NIGHT...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. .WED...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. .WED NIGHT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. .THU THROUGH SAT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. $$ PKZ413-121245- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 316 PM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY... .TONIGHT...S wind 10 to 25 kt becoming SE 20 to 35 kt after midnight. Seas 4 to 9 ft. .TUE...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .TUE NIGHT...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .WED...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. .WED NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. .THU THROUGH SAT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. $$ PKZ414-121245- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 316 PM AKDT Mon May 11 2020 .TONIGHT...SE wind up to 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. .TUE...SE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .TUE NIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. .WED...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .WED NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .THU THROUGH SAT...N wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. $$
933 FZAK62 PAFC 121134 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 334 AM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 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. PKZ499-130230- 334 AM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 979 mb low near 51N 175E moves to 48N 174W at 985 mb late Tue night, then moves into the North Pacific. A 1007 mb low near 62N 171W late Tue night becomes a front over the northwestern Bering by late Wed night. $$ PKZ411-130230- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 334 AM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .WED...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. .WED NIGHT...N wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .THU THROUGH SAT...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 ft. $$ PKZ412-130230- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 334 AM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 .TODAY...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. .WED...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. .WED NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. .THU THROUGH SAT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. $$ PKZ413-130230- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 334 AM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT... .TODAY...E wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Rain. .TONIGHT...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .WED...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft. .WED NIGHT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. .THU THROUGH SAT...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft. $$ PKZ414-130230- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 334 AM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 .TODAY...E wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .WED...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .WED NIGHT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .THU THROUGH SAT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. $$
627 FZAK62 PAFC 122322 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 322 PM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-131330- 322 PM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 981 mb low at 51N 179E Tue afternoon, moves southeast and away from the region by Wednesday. A front over the southwestern Bering and central Aleutians will also weaken as the low moves away. A 1004 mb low at 63N 168W Tue afternoon moves to 61N 177W and weakens to 1009 mb Wed afternoon, then dissipates by Thu. $$ PKZ411-131330- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 322 PM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 .TONIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .WED...N wind 20 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. .WED NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. .THU...N wind up to 10 kt. Seas 5 ft. .THU NIGHT...E wind up to 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft. $$ PKZ412-131330- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 322 PM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 .TONIGHT...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. .WED...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .WED NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 6 ft. .THU...NE wind up to 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. $$ PKZ413-131330- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 322 PM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .WED...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft. .WED NIGHT...NE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .THU...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft. $$ PKZ414-131330- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 322 PM AKDT Tue May 12 2020 .TONIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .WED...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .WED NIGHT...NE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .THU...N wind up to 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. .THU NIGHT...N wind up to 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 ft. $$
185 FZAK62 PAFC 131120 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 320 AM AKDT Wed May 13 2020 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. PKZ499-140200- 320 AM AKDT Wed May 13 2020 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A front over the Central and Western Aleutians moves into the North Pacific Wed. A 1007 mb low near 62N 171W becomes a trough of low pressure over the northwestern Bering Wed night. High pressure builds over the central Bering through late Thu night. $$ PKZ411-140200- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 320 AM AKDT Wed May 13 2020 .TODAY...N wind 20 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. .TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. .THU...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 5 ft. .THU NIGHT...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft. $$ PKZ412-140200- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 320 AM AKDT Wed May 13 2020 .TODAY...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .THU...E wind up to 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind up to 10 kt. Seas 3 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 ft. $$ PKZ413-140200- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 320 AM AKDT Wed May 13 2020 .TODAY...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .THU...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 5 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft. $$ PKZ414-140200- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 320 AM AKDT Wed May 13 2020 .TODAY...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .THU...N wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. .THU NIGHT...N wind up to 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 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 May 10, 4:16 PM AKDT, 11 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 10, 4:16 PM AKDT, 11 hours 18 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 416 PM AKDT Sun May 10 2020 .ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS... There is an upper level ridge over eastern Alaska and an upper level trough over the Bering Sea and Aleutians. Southeast flow aloft is over most of southern Alaska in between these two features. This is bringing some clouds to the area, but very little precipitation. Temperatures are well above normal at almost all the southern mainland locations, and winds are fairly light. A weak front is over the eastern Bering and western Alaska Peninsula, producing some showers by not very much wind. A slightly stronger front is over the central Bering and Central Aleutians. && .MODEL DISCUSSION... The numerical models are in very good agreement through Tuesday afternoon. There are some minor differences in the handling of moisture and precipitation with an upper level short-wave trough that slides through southern Alaska Monday and Monday night. In spite of this, forecast confidence is above normal. && .AVIATION... PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)... Clouds will increase this evening as a front moves into the Gulf. Light rain will move south to north over the Kenai Peninsula early Monday through Tuesday morning under the front. This will lead to high temperatures decreasing by approximately 10 degrees from previous days. Convection remains possible along the Alaska Range near the Copper River Basin, however any storms would be very isolated. Partly to mostly sunny skies and warmer temperatures will return Tuesday and Wednesday across the region. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)... Cloud cover and shower activity will decrease this afternoon and evening across the Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol Bay as upper level high pressure noses in from the northeast. This upper level ridging will be short lived as a second shortwave moves in from the southeast late tonight into early tomorrow morning. The showers from this shortwave will be primarily in the Kuskokwim Valley as this shortwave is moving farther inland than the previous shortwave. As a result, clouds will increase late this evening across the Kuskokwim Valley with showers developing tonight. The areas in the Kuskokwim Valley that will remain the driest will be along the foot of the Alaska Range due to downsloping. These showers will continue through Tuesday night before tapering off from southeast to northwest. Conditions across Southwest Alaska will then become warmer and drier as strong upper level ridging advances southwestward behind the shortwave with prevailing southeasterly flow aloft. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3)... A weakening occluded front (cold occlusion) has become nearly stationary over the eastern Bering/Aleutians and continues to bring cloud cover with showers throughout that area. Colder temperatures are located over the western and central Bering west of the frontal boundary. Large long period swell in the northwest Bering will continue to abate this evening and tonight. A negatively-tilted trough will continue to extend across the central Bering from Siberia through Tuesday morning and continue bringing cloud cover and showers across the central Bering and Pribilof Islands. A low pressure system will approach the western Bering/Aleutians late Monday morning, bringing Small Craft winds to the area. Winds will increase Monday afternoon as the low moves closer to the area. Gale force winds are likely Monday afternoon as forecast soundings show Gale force winds between 1000-2000ft AGL at PASY. Due to these strong winds in the lower levels, it is likely the boundary layer will remain coupled and allow these Gale force winds to mix down to the surface. A GFS/NAM blend is the preferred solution as the ECMWF still shows the deepest low while having the lowest wind speeds. && .MARINE (Days 3-5 Wednesday through Friday)... A low south of the Aleutians on Wednesday will move east into the Gulf of Alaska by Saturday. Currently no gales are forecast with this low, but they are possible over the Aleutians on Wednesday and over the Gulf by late Friday. && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4-7 Thursday through Sunday)... On Thursday there sill be an upper level low centered south of the Alaska Peninsula and an upper high north of the Bering Strait. Southern Alaska will be in a trough that is the westward extension of a low over northern Canada. This trough will slowly slide westward through Sunday. There are differences amongst the models as to how strong this trough will be and where exactly it will set up, so increasing amounts of ensemble means were used in the forecast blend by next weekend. Even with the trough over southern Alaska, temperatures are still expected to be above normal. && .AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PUBLIC...Flood Warning: 155. Flood Advisory: 155. MARINE...NONE. FIRE WEATHER...NONE. && SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...BL SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...AP SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...ED MARINE/LONG TERM...LTD
The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 4:01 PM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 59 hr | |
| May 11, 3:39 AM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 60 hr | |
| May 11, 3:18 PM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 24 hr | |
| May 11, 3:18 PM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 4 days | |
| May 11, 3:29 PM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 36 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.