Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2020

Gale Warning 404, NWS Anchorage, AK

July 12, 2020

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Jul 12, 2020, 3:31 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
Jul 12, 2020, 3:31 AM AKDT (11:31 UTC)
Expired
Jul 14, 2020, 3:42 AM AKDT
In force
48 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

604 
FZAK61 PAFC 121131
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
331 AM AKDT Sun Jul 12 2020

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.

PKZ399-130100-
331 AM AKDT Sun Jul 12 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 1005 mb low at 54N 160W moves to 56N 149W at 1005 mb Sun night.
The low then moves to 57N 144W at 1001 mb Mon night.

$$

PKZ351-130100-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
331 AM AKDT Sun Jul 12 2020

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TODAY...S wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 to 25 kt becoming NE 20 to 35 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 5 to 10 ft. Rain.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...SW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.

$$

PKZ352-130100-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
331 AM AKDT Sun Jul 12 2020

.TODAY...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft.
.MON...S wind 10 to 20 kt becoming W 10 to 25 kt in the afternoon.
Seas 7 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft.
.THU...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$
4 follow-up statements
742 
FZAK61 PAFC 122356
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
356 PM AKDT Sun Jul 12 2020

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.

PKZ399-131330-
356 PM AKDT Sun Jul 12 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 1004 mb low at 55N 152W moves to 57N 148W at 1002 mb by Mon
afternoon and then to 57N 141W at 1006 mb by Tue afternoon.

$$

PKZ351-131330-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
356 PM AKDT Sun Jul 12 2020

...GALE WARNING MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.MON...E wind 15 to 30 kt becoming NE 25 to 40 kt in the
afternoon.
Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...SE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ352-131330-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
356 PM AKDT Sun Jul 12 2020

.TONIGHT...S to E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.MON...S to W wind 15 to 25 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Seas 8 
ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...S wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$
126 
FZAK61 PAFC 131148
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
348 AM AKDT Mon Jul 13 2020

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.

PKZ399-140115-
348 AM AKDT Mon Jul 13 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 1004 mb low at 56N 149W moves to 57N 145W at 1000 mb Mon night.
The low then weakens and moves into the eastern Gulf Tue night.

$$

PKZ351-140115-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
348 AM AKDT Mon Jul 13 2020

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.TUE...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...SW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ352-140115-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
348 AM AKDT Mon Jul 13 2020

.TODAY...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$
140 
FZAK61 PAFC 132347
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
347 PM AKDT Mon Jul 13 2020

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.

PKZ399-141300-
347 PM AKDT Mon Jul 13 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 1000 mb low at 57N 148W moves into the eastern Gulf by Wed
afternoon.

$$

PKZ351-141300-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
347 PM AKDT Mon Jul 13 2020

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt except becoming variable wind to 20 kt
east 147W after midnight. Seas 8 to 12 ft. Slight Chance of 
thunderstorms in the evening.
.TUE...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.WED...W wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU THROUGH SAT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ352-141300-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
347 PM AKDT Mon Jul 13 2020

.TONIGHT...NW to SW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. Slight chance
of thunderstorms in the evening. 
.TUE...N to W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...W wind up to 20 kt becoming 10 kt after midnight.
Seas 7 ft.
.WED...W wind 10 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED NIGHT...SW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU THROUGH SAT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft.

$$
020 
FZAK61 PAFC 141142
OFFAER

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
342 AM AKDT Tue Jul 14 2020

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.

PKZ399-150045-
342 AM AKDT Tue Jul 14 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 1002 mb low at 57N 145W moves to 57N 141W at 1008 mb Tue night
and then weakens and exits the Gulf Wed night. 

$$

PKZ351-150045-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore North of 57N and West of 144W-
342 AM AKDT Tue Jul 14 2020

.TODAY...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.TONIGHT...N wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.WED...N wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU THROUGH SAT...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ352-150045-
Gulf of Alaska Offshore South of 57N North of 55N and West of
144W-
342 AM AKDT Tue Jul 14 2020

.TODAY...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.WED...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.WED NIGHT...W wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU THROUGH SAT...SW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 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 Jul 11, 5:07 PM AKDT, 10 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 11, 5:07 PM AKDT, 10 hours 24 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
507 PM AKDT Sat Jul 11 2020

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

A 500 mb low east of the Yukon Delta has been producing some
thunderstorms throughout the day in the Kuskokwim valley. This
upper level low will move southward through the next few days and
be the focus for thunderstorm activity this afternoon and evening,
and again Sunday. While Southcentral Alaska remains unstable and
conducive for thunderstorms today, they should be more widespread
in Southwest Alaska because of this upper level low.

The Bering Sea remains under high pressure causing low stratus
over the majority of it. A front along the Central Aleutians is
shearing apart as it runs into the ridge.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
Models are in good synoptic agreement through the early part of
next week with some more noise creeping into the pattern for the
second half of the week. This is most evident in the Bering Sea
where the GFS has a high in the central Bering and the ECMWF and
Canadian show a closed low in the southern Bering Sea. However,
this will mainly impact the Aleutian chain and the practical
difference may just be wind direction and whether there is
predominately fog or rain.

&&

.AVIATION...
PANC...
Winds have turned to the southeast this evening and could be gusty
at times off the Turnagain Arm. Showers will persist around the
airport into tomorrow, with some isolated thunderstorms around the
terminal this evening. Ceilings will drop under 5000 ft at times,
but should remain above MVFR conditions.

&&

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

The upper level low continues to drop south over western Alaska,
pushing ample moisture into the Southcentral region. This,
coupled with the unstable airmass, will produce isolated to
scattered thunderstorm activity across the Kenai Peninsula north
into the Susitna Valley and western Copper River Basin this
evening. The steering flow is out of the west, thus expect the
storms that do form to move to the east and mainly be along the
Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains. Some storms will form off the
Alaska Range as well and move across the Susitna Valley. Following
the convective activity tonight, west to southwest flow will
usher in more stable air along with more moisture, thus increasing
the chances of rain across much of south central Alaska Sunday,
particularly the Susitna Valley.

A surface low will be under the low over Southwest Alaska and a
surface low will form along a front south of the Alaska Peninsula
tonight. This low intensifies as it moves into the western Gulf of
Alaska Sunday night and Monday. In advance of this low a ridge
builds in the eastern Gulf of Alaska and intensifies Monday. The
interior thermal trough, while not strong, will be in place as
well. The combination of the intensifying ridge and interior
trough will be the driver behind the gap winds through the Chugach
Mountains as well as along the Copper River the next few days.

&&

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

An active pattern is set up across Southwest Alaska today as an
upper level trough digs into the region. Instability and
convection accompany this feature as it moves southward through
the end of the weekend. Thunderstorms have already developed over
the Kuskokwim Valley and interior Bristol Bay. Widely scattered
thunderstorms are expected to continue for interior locations,
with areas just north of New Stuyahok looking like a hot spot for
storms late this afternoon into the evening hours.

This pattern will continue into Sunday, though a bit weaker with
less thunderstorm activity expected as there is slightly less
instability in place. However, isolated thunderstorms remain in
the forecast, once again staying farther inland away from the
coasts. Quieter weather moves in to start the week on Monday with
showers tapering off across the Southwest.

&&

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

With high pressure across the Bering, fog and low stratus will
remain in the forecast over the next few days, with conditions
improving for the daytime hours. Low pressure continues to slide
eastward south of the Aleutian Chain, keeping relatively weak
winds with a chance of precipitation. However, there is some model
uncertainty start Sunday afternoon whether this area of low
pressure will develop into a closed low south of Kodiak Island,
which would bring more precipitation and stronger winds to areas
south of the Alaska Peninsula.

&&

.MARINE (Days 3 through 5: Tuesday through Thursday)...

High pressure lingers across the Bering with easterly winds and
waves across the southern half and southerly winds and waves over
the northern half through Thu. High uncertainty comes with the
initial position and track of a North Pacific low, bringing
problems its movement and wind directions with said low through
Thu. Confidence is good for less than small craft winds and waves
south of the Aleutians through Thu.

Over the Gulf, a low center will track across the Gulf, however
certainty is low for frontal positions through Thu. East to
southeast winds and waves are expected across the Northern Gulf
with less than small craft speeds. We expect a shift to northerly
winds and waves around Kodiak Island and the western Gulf by Thu.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 3 through 7)...
By Tuesday, the upper level low that is near Southwest Alaska
today will have moved over Kodiak Island and be in the central
Gulf of Alaska. This will start the period with high pressure over
Southwest Alaska and a front along the north Gulf coast. The high
pressure is not terribly strong but should spread over
Southcentral Alaska for the middle of next week. Southwest Alaska
will be susceptible for low stratus to advect into the region off
the Bering Sea, though rainfall should mainly be afternoon and evening
showers over higher terrain.

Afternoon and evening showers are also likely over interior parts
of Southcentral Alaska throughout the period.

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...NONE.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...EZ
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...SA
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...AH
MARINE/LONG TERM...MK/EZ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 11, 4:00 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Jul 12, 3:40 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC12 hr
Jul 12, 10:10 AM AKDTAreal Flood AdvisoryAFC28 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.