Storm Warning 55, NWS Anchorage, AK

352 
FZAK62 PAFC 102346
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
346 PM AKDT Tue Mar 10 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.

PKZ499-111415-
346 PM AKDT Tue Mar 10 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A front over the central Aleutians will dissipate Tue night into 
Wed. A strong front will enter the western Bering on Wed and track to
the central Bering on Thu. A front associated with a North Pacific 
low will lift northward toward the Alaska Peninsula and eastern 
Aleutians Wed through Thu.

$$

PKZ411-111415-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
346 PM AKDT Tue Mar 10 2020

...STORM WARNING WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.WED...SW wind 10 to 25 kt becoming S 20 to 35 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 6 to 10 ft.
.WED NIGHT...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. Rain.
.THU...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 16 to 24 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft.
.FRI...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 17 ft.
.SAT...SE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft.
.SUN...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.

$$

PKZ412-111415-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
346 PM AKDT Tue Mar 10 2020

...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.WED...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.WED NIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt increasing to 30 to 45 kt after
midnight. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.THU...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft.
.THU NIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft.
.FRI...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.

$$

PKZ413-111415-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
346 PM AKDT Tue Mar 10 2020

...GALE WARNING WEDNESDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt diminishing to up to 15 kt after
midnight. Seas 3 to 8 ft.
.WED...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.WED NIGHT...S wind 10 to 25 kt increasing to 25 to 40 kt after
midnight. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.THU...S wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.

$$

PKZ414-111415-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
346 PM AKDT Tue Mar 10 2020

.TONIGHT...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 1 to 3 ft.
.WED...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 1 to 3 ft.
.WED NIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 to 5 ft.
.THU...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7
ft.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3
to 8 ft.

$$

643 
FZAK62 PAFC 111115
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
315 AM AKDT Wed Mar 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.

PKZ499-120130-
315 AM AKDT Wed Mar 11 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A strong front over the western Bering Wed afternoon will track 
to the central Bering by Thu morning and will weaken through Fri 
morning. A front associated with a 985 mb North Pacific low Wed 
afternoon will lift northward over the Alaska Peninsula and 
eastern Aleutians through Fri morning.

$$

PKZ411-120130-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
315 AM AKDT Wed Mar 11 2020

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...

.TODAY...SW wind 10 to 25 kt becoming S 20 to 35 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.TONIGHT...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. Rain.
.THU...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 17 to 25 ft. Rain and snow.
.THU NIGHT...SW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 15 to 23 ft.
.FRI...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.

$$

PKZ412-120130-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
315 AM AKDT Wed Mar 11 2020

...STORM WARNING THURSDAY...

.TODAY...S wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.TONIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt increasing to 30 to 45 kt after
midnight. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.THU...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.THU NIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.

$$

PKZ413-120130-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
315 AM AKDT Wed Mar 11 2020

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...

.TODAY...S wind up to 15 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
.TONIGHT...S wind 10 to 25 kt increasing to 25 to 40 kt after
midnight. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.THU...S wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.

$$

PKZ414-120130-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
315 AM AKDT Wed Mar 11 2020

.TODAY...NW wind 10 kt becoming SW up to 10 kt in the afternoon.
Seas in ice free waters 0 to 4 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 0 to 5 ft.
.THU...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7 ft.
Freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7
ft.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4
to
9 ft.

$$

690 
FZAK62 PAFC 112311
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
311 PM AKDT Wed Mar 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.

PKZ499-121330-
311 PM AKDT Wed Mar 11 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A strong front extending from a low over the southern Kamchatka 
Peninsula in an arc to the northwest Bering Sea then south across 
the western Aleutians will move to the Central Bering Sea
extending through Adak Thursday evening. This front will then
remain stationalry and dissipate. 

$$

PKZ411-121330-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
311 PM AKDT Wed Mar 11 2020

...STORM WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. Rain.
.THU...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 17 to 25 ft. Rain and snow.
.THU NIGHT...SW wind 20 to 35 kt diminishing to 10 to 25 kt after
midnight. Seas 15 to 23 ft. Snow and rain.
.FRI...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 18 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.MON...SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.

$$

PKZ412-121330-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
311 PM AKDT Wed Mar 11 2020

...STORM WARNING THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...S wind 15 to 30 kt increasing to 30 to 45 kt after
midnight. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.THU...S wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.THU NIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. Snow and rain.
.FRI...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 13 ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...SE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.

$$

PKZ413-121330-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
311 PM AKDT Wed Mar 11 2020

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 10 to 25 kt increasing to 25 to 40 kt after
midnight. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.THU...S wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt becoming S 15 to 25 kt after
midnight. Seas 8 to 16 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 10 to 16 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.MON...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.

$$

PKZ414-121330-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
311 PM AKDT Wed Mar 11 2020

.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 1 to 5 ft.
.THU...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7
ft.
.FRI...SE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 to 9 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 to 9
ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3
to 7 ft.

$$

001 
FZAK62 PAFC 121136
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
336 AM AKDT Thu Mar 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.

PKZ499-130130-
336 AM AKDT Thu Mar 12 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A strong front over the western Bering and Aleutians Wed morning
will lift into the northern Bering and weaken through Fri morning.
A front developing over the eastern Bering and Alaska Peninsula will
persists through Sat.

$$

PKZ411-130130-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
336 AM AKDT Thu Mar 12 2020

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...S wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 17 to 25 ft. Rain and snow.
.TONIGHT...SW wind 15 to 30 kt diminishing to up to 20 kt after
midnight. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Snow.
.FRI...N wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 11 to 18 ft. Snow.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind up to 15 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.SAT...W wind up to 15 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.SUN...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.MON...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 13 to 21 ft.

$$

PKZ412-130130-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
336 AM AKDT Thu Mar 12 2020

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...S wind 30 to 45 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.TONIGHT...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. Snow.
.FRI...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 11 to 17 ft. Rain and snow.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.SAT...S wind up to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.SUN...NE wind up to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.MON...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.

$$

PKZ413-130130-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
336 AM AKDT Thu Mar 12 2020

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 20 to 30 kt diminishing to 10 to 25 kt 
after midnight. Seas 9 to 15 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.MON...SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.

$$

PKZ414-130130-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
336 AM AKDT Thu Mar 12 2020

.TODAY...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7 ft.
Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 8 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SE wind 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 to 9 ft. Rain.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 to 9
ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3
to 7 ft.

$$

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
452 AM AKDT Tue Mar 10 2020

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

A weak upper level ridge is encompassing much of the Bering
leading to relatively quiet conditions. Snow showers are
occurring across the Pribilofs and eastern Aleutians in a cold,
northwesterly flow. Clear skies are seen over Southwest Alaska
under the aforementioned ridge, bringing temperatures well below
zero in many locations. Farther east, an upper level trough
currently extends from the northeastern interior through
Southcentral and the Kenai Peninsula. Scattered snow showers are
continuing ahead of the trough over eastern Prince William Sound.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

Models remain in good agreement regarding the dry, offshore flow
pattern and strong winds developing through terrain gaps near
Valdez in the near-term. Confidence is above average.

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...VFR conditions are generally expected, however brief MVFR
conditions are possible this morning with low status currently
indicated on satellite in the vicinity of the terminal. Northerly
winds will continue through the morning, diminishing by
afternoon.

&&

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

The upper-level trough axis over Southwest Alaska yesterday
continues to slowly track east. Currently, this feature is draped
from the Susitna Valley south across the Cook Inlet. Low stratus
is hanging tough this morning underneath the trough, but a
developing drier, northerly flow is beginning to scour away some
of this cloud cover and reduce the areal coverage, as seen via the
nighttime satellite imagery. This clearing trend will continue
from west to east today as the trough moves over the Copper River
Basin later this morning and east of the AL-Can border by early
Wednesday morning. Snow continues to fall from Prince William
Sound to the Copper River Basin east of the trough axis this
morning. The light snow is expected to continue through the
afternoon and evening hours before tapering off. Additional
accumulations of up to 2 inches are expected.

The bigger weather story, however, will be the continued increase
in outflow gap winds through the next 36 hours or so as the
north/south pressure gradient tightens between a surface ridge
over the interior of western Alaska and a trough situated along
the Southcentral coast. Gale-force winds will continue today
across the Barren Islands, Shelikof Strait, Resurrection Bay, and
Passage Canal. This includes locations like Seward and Whittier
where wind gusts exceeding 45 mph are possible through tonight.
Later this morning, winds will quickly ramp up for the city of
Valdez, the Valdez Waterways, Thompson Pass, and the Copper River
Delta. Gales are expected for the waterways through tomorrow,
with gusts approaching 50 mph for Valdez and 70 mph for Thompson
Pass through early Wednesday, with the strongest gusts from mid-
afternoon today through late evening as the 500 mb trough passes
overhead. For these locations, the strong winds will produce
areas of blowing snow. Expect severely restricted visibilities at
times with blowing and drifting snow for Thompson Pass. Gusty
winds are also likely along Broad Pass and portions of the
Matanuska Valley today as well.

Winds will slowly diminish late Wednesday through early Thursday from
west to east as the Arctic high settles along the Al-Can border
and the surface trough weakens and shifts southeast toward the
Alaska Peninsula. An upper-level ridge will approach from the
west, maintaining the clear and dry conditions across Southcentral
through the rest of the week.

&&

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

Cold and clear conditions will persist today and Wednesday as the
quiet, dry pattern continues across Southwest Alaska through the
end of the week. However, there is a chance for snow showers
overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning near Hooper Bay with an
upper level wave moving across the region. By Thursday, an upper
level ridge of high pressure will begin to move over the region,
bringing a warm up in temperatures for the end of the week.

&&

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

Northerly gap flow will persist over the eastern Aleutians and
Alaska Peninsula this morning before beginning to weaken from
west to east later today. The exception being strong winds, which
will continue for gaps south of the Alaska Peninsula through
tomorrow, keeping heavy freezing spray in the forecast. Over the
western Aleutians today, a quick moving system will bring an area
of gale force winds to the Chain before exiting southward
overnight tonight.

Attention quickly focuses on the next storm force system that
enters the western Aleutians and Bering Wednesday morning. This
system will progress eastward over the central Bering by Thursday
afternoon, bringing widespread precipitation to the region.
Meanwhile, models show good agreement that a North Pacific low
will lift farther northward, bringing small craft advisory winds
along the eastern Aleutians and Bering beginning Wednesday
afternoon through Thursday. This system will also help keep the
storm force low from entering the eastern Bering or the Southwest
mainland.

&&

.MARINE (Days 3 through 5)...

By late Wednesday into Thursday, the north/south pressure
gradient will continue to produce winds up to 30 kts with
occasional higher gusts across the Barren Islands, Resurrection
Bay, and the Copper River Delta. These winds will diminish by late
Thursday into early Friday as a trough near the Alaska Peninsula
weakens and moves southeast and a ridge builds over the northern
Gulf. This ridge will remain in place through Saturday with
westerly winds less than 20 kts and seas 7 ft or less expected
across the northern half of the Gulf.

A storm force over the western Aleutians on Wednesday will begin
to weaken and lift northward on Thursday afternoon, keeping an
area of storm force winds west of St Matthew Island and north of
56N is expected through that time. By Friday, this system will
diminish, keeping relatively quiet weather over the Bering. A
North Pacific low will approach the eastern Aleutians Thursday
night, bringing the next round of precipitation to the eastern
Aleutians, including Dutch Harbor, through Friday night.

&&

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

Southcentral Alaska will continue to see clear and dry conditions
with some lingering northerly gap winds for Thursday, albeit much
weaker than earlier in the week. Colder temperatures will
persist, especially across interior locations. A ridge of high
pressure will replace the seemingly persistent trough over the
Gulf by the end of the week. This will shut off the northerly flow
and allow for a warming trend with temperatures rebounding closer
to average through the weekend. Weak shortwaves progressing west
to east along the northern periphery of the ridge may produce
periods of high and mid-level clouds across interior Southcentral
Friday through Sunday.

Relatively quiet conditions will persists across Southwest
mainland with an upper level ridge holding in place through
Friday. A chance for snow showers will return to the Kuskokwim
Delta coast by Friday afternoon as a front in the Bering moves
eastward. The remainder of Southwest Alaska will likely remain dry
through the start of the weekend.

&&

.AFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...NONE
MARINE...Gale Warning: 121 127-132 138 150 178.
         Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: 119-121 127 129 130 138
                                       139 141 150 155 165
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...AP
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...TM
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...AH
MARINE/LONG TERM...LB