Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2020

Gale Warning 362, NWS Anchorage, AK

May 9, 2020

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at May 9, 2020, 3:21 PM AKDT. It was in force for 12 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 9, 2020, 3:21 PM AKDT (23:21 UTC)
Expired
May 10, 2020, 3:41 AM AKDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

820 
FZAK52 PAFC 092321
CWFALU

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

Coastal Waters Forecast for Southwest Alaska+Bristol Bay+The
Alaska Peninsula Waters and the Aleutian Islands up to 100 nm out.

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.

PKZ199-101215-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS...

A 967 mb low 360 nm North of Attu moves to the Sea of Okhotsk and
dissipates by Mon afternoon. Its front remains nearly stationary
in the Central Bering and weakens through Mon afternoon. A 984 mb
South Kamchatka low moves to 340 nm West of Attu for Mon 
afternoon. Its front approaches the Western Aleutians through Mon 
afternoon.

$$

PKZ150-101215-
South of the AK Peninsula Sitkinak to Castle Cape-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...E wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...E wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ155-101215-
South of the AK Peninsula Castle Cape to Cape Sarichef-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...E wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. Rain.
.SUN NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TUE...E wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ160-101215-
Bristol Bay-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.MON...E wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON NIGHT...SW wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.THU...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ165-101215-
Port Heiden to Cape Sarichef-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Rain.
.SUN...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ170-101215-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Bering Side-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.WED...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ171-101215-
Unalaska Bay-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 kt in the evening becoming variable less
than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Rain.
.SUN...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...E wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.THU...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ172-101215-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Pacific Side-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN...W wind 15 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.WED...E wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ173-101215-
Nikolski to Seguam Island Bering Side-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...S wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ174-101215-
Nikolski to Seguam Island Pacific Side-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...S wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ175-101215-
Seguam Island to Adak Bering Side-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SUN...S wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...W wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE...E wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ176-101215-
Seguam Island to Adak Pacific Side-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 19 ft.
.SUN...S wind 25 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...W wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ177-101215-
Adak to Kiska-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 21 ft. Rain.
.SUN...SW wind 25 kt diminishing to 15 kt in the afternoon. Seas
13 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.TUE...E wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.WED...N wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ178-101215-
Kiska to Attu-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW wind 35 kt diminishing to 25 kt after midnight. Seas
20 ft subsiding to 14 ft after midnight.
.SUN...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TUE...N wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.WED...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ179-101215-
Pribilof Islands Near Shore Waters-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SUN...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.WED...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ180-101215-
Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...E wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ181-101215-
North and West of Nunivak Island-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 7 ft. Rain and
snow.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 ft. Rain and snow.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.TUE...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.WED...N wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.

$$

PKZ185-101215-
Saint Matthew Island Waters-
321 PM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 22 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 15 kt E of Saint Matthew Island... SE 25 kt W of
Saint Matthew Island. Seas 20 ft subsiding to 15 ft in the afternoon.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$
1 follow-up statement
550 
FZAK52 PAFC 101141
CWFALU

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

Coastal Waters Forecast for Southwest Alaska+Bristol Bay+The
Alaska Peninsula Waters and the Aleutian Islands up to 100 nm out.

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.

PKZ199-110100-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS...

A front over the eastern Bering and a second front over the
central Bering and Aleutians both dissipate by late Sun night. A
third front moves into the Western Aleutians Mon, and reaches the
central Aleutians late Mon night.

$$

PKZ150-110100-
South of the AK Peninsula Sitkinak to Castle Cape-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

.TODAY...E wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ155-110100-
South of the AK Peninsula Castle Cape to Cape Sarichef-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ160-110100-
Bristol Bay-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

.TODAY...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 kt becoming E after midnight. Seas 4 ft.
.MON...E wind 10 kt in the morning becoming variable less than
10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON NIGHT...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.THU...W wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ165-110100-
Port Heiden to Cape Sarichef-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.WED...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ170-110100-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Bering Side-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.TONIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.WED...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ171-110100-
Unalaska Bay-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

.TODAY...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TONIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.THU...N wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ172-110100-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Pacific Side-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.TONIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON NIGHT...S wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ173-110100-
Nikolski to Seguam Island Bering Side-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SW wind 20 kt in the morning shifting to S wind 20 kt in 
the afternoon. Seas 10 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON NIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ174-110100-
Nikolski to Seguam Island Pacific Side-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY...

.TODAY...S wind 20 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.TONIGHT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...W wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.WED...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ175-110100-
Seguam Island to Adak Bering Side-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TODAY...

.TODAY...S wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TONIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE...E wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.WED...N wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ176-110100-
Seguam Island to Adak Pacific Side-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY...

.TODAY...S wind 25 kt. Seas 14 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...W wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.TUE...E wind 30 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.WED...N wind 30 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ177-110100-
Adak to Kiska-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY...

.TODAY...SW wind 25 kt becoming W 15 kt in the afternoon. Seas
12 ft.
.TONIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...S wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TUE...E wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.WED...N wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ178-110100-
Kiska to Attu-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY...

.TODAY...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TONIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...S wind 20 kt becoming SE 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 10
ft. Rain.
.MON NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ179-110100-
Pribilof Islands Near Shore Waters-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.TONIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ180-110100-
Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

.TODAY...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas
5 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...E wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ181-110100-
North and West of Nunivak Island-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

.TODAY...SE wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.MON NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.TUE...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.

$$

PKZ185-110100-
Saint Matthew Island Waters-
341 AM AKDT Sun May 10 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE wind 15 kt E of Saint Matthew Island... SE 25 kt W of
Saint Matthew Island. Seas 20 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.WED...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 5 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 9, 5:07 AM AKDT, 10 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 9, 5:07 AM AKDT, 10 hours 14 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
507 AM AKDT Sat May 9 2020

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

The upper level weather pattern is a very complex over Alaska and
the Bering this morning, as the pattern buckles and eventually
reorients itself. A large vertically stacked low and associated
trough is over the far western Bering, northwest of Attu. A 135 kt
southerly jet streak represents the leading edge of this trough. A
skinny ridge is ahead of it over the Eastern Bering and Aleutians.
A second upper level low well south of Kodiak is drifting
southward away from Alaska. A larger ridge is over western North
America along the Alaska-Canada border. Broad southeasterly flow
is in place over much of mainland Alaska. Thus, Gulf moisture
continues to move into the coastal Chugach and Kenai mountains,
but any precipitation remains confined to the coast. Isolated
sprinkles and light rain are impacting a few areas of inland
Southcentral. Satellite shows widespread cloud cover overspreading
Southcentral, while the skies over nearly all of Southwest Alaska
are mostly clear. Temperatures area-wide are in the 30s and 40s,
with the largest temperature falls this morning where skies are
clear over Southwest Alaska. Cloud cover associated with the
strong jet over the central Bering is now moving into the
Kuskokwim Delta coast.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

The model agreement on the large-scale remains very good, which in
turn keeps forecast confidence high. Due to the aforementioned
complex upper level pattern, a series of shortwaves tracking
northwestward around the low and trough south of Kodiak are not
well-agreed upon in the models. The impact of that will be whether
rain impacts coastal Southwest Alaska Saturday night, and how much
rain is picked up. There is decent agreement on the track of the
shortwaves.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist. The winds will
turn out of the southeast due to the normal thermal trough
developing in the Susitna Valley this afternoon, but are not
expected to become gusty.

&&

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

A weakening occluded front over the northern Gulf drifts slowly
south today as higher pressure builds aloft over the mainland.
Clouds and rain(mainly Gulf/eastern Kenai Peninsula) will
dissipate allowing for some sunshine and warming temperatures.
Many areas inland today will see afternoon highs in the low to
mid 60s with lower 70s over the Copper River Basin and portions
of the Susitna Valley, cooler temperatures along the coast
afternoon sea breezes. As inland temperatures warm during the day
RH values will drop with some locations seeing values in the
lower 20s. Generally warm and dry conditions will continue inland
into Sunday. The Kenai Peninsula will be the exception as a weak
frontal zone, associated with broad southeasterly flow aloft,
moves north and brings clouds and increased changes of rain Sunday
through Sunday night. Winds overall will be on the light side
over the mainland through the weekend with sea breezes along the
coasts and local regimes inland. However, there will be brief
period of gusty southeast winds out of the Knik River Valley this
afternoon.

&&

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

For the most part, the weather pattern across southwest Alaska
will remain relatively quiet. An upper level shortwave associated
with a low in the Gulf moves over Southwest tonight, bringing
showers to the Bristol Bay coast. By Sunday morning, this
precipitation will spread northward, reaching the Kuskokwim Delta
coast before tapering off Sunday night. By the start of the next
workweek, a stronger upper level disturbance moves in from the
southeast, bringing increasing chances for rain across interior
locations.

&&

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

The big story out west is the large area of low pressure in place
across the western Bering. The associated front continues to move
eastward over the Pribilofs this morning bringing gusty southerly
winds before stalling over the eastern Bering this evening. On
the backside of this low, storm force winds are expected for the
western Aleutians today before they taper by the evening as the
low center lifts northward. A showery regime is expected across
the western Bering for Sunday as colder air fills in. By Monday
morning, another low approaches the western Aleutians bringing
another round of gusty southerly winds and rain to start the week.

&&

.MARINE (Days 3-5 Monday through Wednesday)...
The pattern for the first half of next week will consist of low
pressure over the Bering Sea and Aleutians, and high pressure over
mainland Alaska and the Gulf. Winds are expected to stay below
gale force, with small craft advisory winds limited to the
Aleutians and Bering.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4-7 Tuesday through Friday)...
The pattern for next week will consist of a ridge over mainland
Alaska and a trough over the Bering Sea and Aleutians. The pattern
will have a negative tilt, with the interface between the ridge
and trough roughly over southwest Alaska. The main forecast
challenge is the degree to which clouds and precipitation will be
over southwest Alaska (and possibly Southcentral by Thursday
night) at that interface between the trough and ridge.
Temperatures will mostly be above normal.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...Flood Warning: 155.
		 Flood Advisory: 155.
MARINE...Storm Warning: 178.
		 Gale Warning: 131 175 177 179 185 411-414.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...JPW
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...BC
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...KO
MARINE/LONG TERM...TM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 9, 3:30 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC12 hr
May 9, 3:30 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
May 9, 3:33 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC12 hr
May 9, 3:37 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC5 days
May 9, 3:21 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC36 hr
May 9, 3:53 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 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.