Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2020

Gale Warning 346, NWS Anchorage, AK

May 11, 2020

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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 10, 4:01 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC59 hr
May 11, 3:39 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC60 hr
May 11, 3:18 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC24 hr
May 11, 3:18 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC4 days
May 11, 3:29 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC36 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2020Every gale warning in 2020

Sources

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