Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2020

Gale Warning 2, NWS Juneau, AK

January 8, 2020

NWS Juneau, AK issued this gale warning at Jan 8, 2020, 3:09 PM AKST. 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
Jan 8, 2020, 3:09 PM AKST (00:09 UTC)
Expired
Jan 10, 2020, 2:44 PM AKST
In force
48 hr
Issued by
NWS Juneau, AK

The text

As transmitted.

116 
FZAK67 PAJK 090009
OFFAJK

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Juneau AK
309 PM AKST Wed Jan 8 2020

Offshore waters forecast for Gulf of Alaska east of 144W

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest
one-third of the combined windwave and swell height.

PKZ398-091815-
309 PM AKST Wed Jan 8 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
High pressure will continue to build in the Yukon increasing 
northerlies across the region. A storm force low will track 
through the central Gulf Thursday. 

$$

PKZ310-091815-
Gulf of Alaska North of 55 Degrees North and East of 144 Degrees
West-
309 PM AKST Wed Jan 8 2020

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. SW swell. Rain showers early
in the evening. 
.THU...E wind 20 kt increasing to 35 kt in the afternoon.
Seas 10 ft. 
.THU NIGHT...E gale to 40 kt. Seas 15 ft. Rain...heavy at
times and snow. 
.FRI...W gale to 40 kt becoming NW 30 kt in the afternoon.
Seas 15 ft. 
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt late. Seas
13 ft. 
.SAT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.SUN...N wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.MON...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft. 

$$
4 follow-up statements
398 
FZAK67 PAJK 091257
OFFAJK

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Juneau AK
357 AM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020

Offshore waters forecast for Gulf of Alaska east of 144W

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest
one-third of the combined windwave and swell height.

PKZ398-100700-
357 AM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A weak low over the southern Panhandle dissipates this morning. A
gale force low moves into the SE gulf tonight and tracks toward 
the BC central coast Friday. Is associated front reaches Dixon 
Entrance tonight and stalls Friday. Strong high pressure resides 
across NW Canada. 

$$

PKZ310-100700-
Gulf of Alaska North of 55 Degrees North and East of 144 Degrees
West-
357 AM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020

...GALE WARNING TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW wind 15 kt becoming E in the morning, then increasing
to 35 kt in the afternoon. Seas 10 ft. Rain in the afternoon. 
.TONIGHT...E wind 40 kt. Seas 15 ft. Snow in the evening. Rain.
.FRI...N gale to 40 kt becoming NW 30 kt in the afternoon.
Seas 15 ft. 
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft. SW swell. Rain late. 
.SAT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.MON...W wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 

$$
084 
FZAK67 PAJK 100015
OFFAJK

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Juneau AK
315 PM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020

Offshore waters forecast for Gulf of Alaska east of 144W

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest
one-third of the combined windwave and swell height.

PKZ398-101815-
315 PM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A gale force low moves into the SE gulf tonight and tracks toward
the BC central coast Friday. It is associated with a front that 
reaches Dixon Entrance tonight and stalls Friday. Strong high 
pressure resides across NW Canada. 

$$

PKZ310-101815-
Gulf of Alaska North of 55 Degrees North and East of 144 Degrees
West-
315 PM AKST Thu Jan 9 2020

...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...E wind 40 kt. Seas 10 ft building to 15 ft. Rain...
heavy at times. Snow late. 
.FRI...N wind 40 kt becoming NW 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas
15 ft. 
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft. SW swell. Rain late. 
.SAT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. SW swell. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. W swell. 
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.MON...W wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.TUE...E wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 

$$
817 
FZAK67 PAJK 101214
OFFAJK

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Juneau AK
314 AM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020

Offshore waters forecast for Gulf of Alaska east of 144W

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest
one-third of the combined windwave and swell height.

PKZ398-110615-
314 AM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A gale force low in the SE gulf tracks E across Haida Gwaii into
the north BC Coast this evening. Its associated weather front
remains stalled across from southern Prince of Wales Island to
Annette Island. Strong high pressure resides across NW Canada.  

$$

PKZ310-110615-
Gulf of Alaska North of 55 Degrees North and East of 144 Degrees
West-
314 AM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020

...GALE WARNING THROUGH THIS MORNING...

.TODAY...NE wind 40 kt becoming NW 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas
15 ft. Rain in the morning. 
.TONIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft. SW swell. Rain late. 
.SAT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. SW swell. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. W swell. 
.SUN...E wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.MON...W wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.TUE...E wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 

$$
196 
FZAK67 PAJK 102344
OFFAJK

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Juneau AK
244 PM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020

Offshore waters forecast for Gulf of Alaska east of 144W

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest
one-third of the combined windwave and swell height.

PKZ398-111745-
244 PM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A gale force low in the SE gulf tracks E across Haida
Gwaii into the north BC Coast this evening. A front which was
stalled across the southern panhandle is beginning to move out and
high pressure to the north is beginning to build into the region.

$$

PKZ310-111745-
Gulf of Alaska North of 55 Degrees North and East of 144 Degrees
West-
244 PM AKST Fri Jan 10 2020

.TONIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft. SW swell. Rain late. 
.SAT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. SW swell. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. W swell. 
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. W swell. 
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. W swell. 
.MON...W wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.TUE...E wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 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 Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Jan 8, 2:52 PM AKST, 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 8, 2:52 PM AKST, 17 minutes before
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
252 PM AKST Wed Jan 8 2020

.SHORT TERM...Cool to cold air in place over Southeast Alaska
will persist into the weekend. A very cold high sits over the
Alaskan interior and Northwest Canada. Tight pressure gradient
packing along the coast mountains so strong gusty outflow winds
are expected into the weekend. Looking to see storm force winds in
the Lynn Canal area. Also looking for the development of a Taku
Mountain wave wind event for the Downtown Juneau and Douglas areas
starting early Friday into the weekend. High Wind Watch issued
for the potential of 60+ mph gusts.

The cold temperatures and strong winds Skagway to White Pass are
causing cold wind chills to 30 to 40 below so and Winter Weather
advisory issued for that.

A weak trough this evening will spark some snow showers over the
southern portion of the panhandle with advisory level
accumulations, and again this is dependent on the showers moving
over the specific areas. Localized training of the showers could
result higher snow totals.

Another wave moving across the southern panhandle is expected to
spread snow back into the southern half of the panhandle. A winter
storm watch for snowfall has been posted for the overrunning
event of the warm moist air over the colder panhandle.

The northern panhandle should dry out and clear out for Thursday,
and could see some clouds move in on Friday. Forecast confidence
is slightly better than average to the weekend.

.LONG TERM...Extended range forecast is a little up in the air
as model disagreement starts to show up rather early in the
forecast. Upper level pattern starts out with notable ridge over
the Alaska mainland (possible omega block), but the disagreement
in guidance stems from how long this feature lingers before
getting pushed out. Operational Canadian is rather progressive
with it pushing it out as early as mon. While the ECMWF, some
ensemble means, and the WPC opt for a slower progression having
some semblance of it sticking around in the Yukon into early next
week.

This uncertainly extends down to the surface with different ideas
on how much cold air will assault the panhandle and how much
effect gulf storms will have on the area for next week. However,
the overall story still remains the same, it is just the details
that are in limbo. The general story is that cold outflow will
continue to rule the forecast for most areas of the panhandle for
the extended period. Expect northerlies of 25 kt or so around Lynn
Canal and Taku Inlet as well as other outflow areas and generally
dry conditions for most areas due to offshore flow. These winds
could go up or down as we get closer to the event depending on how
much cold air actually does make it to the area. Likewise, some
precip could show up, for the outer coast especially, if not as
much outflow appears. Forecast confidence at the moment is
marginal.

Given the notable disagreement between models tonight, any
changes were rather small or no changes were made at all. favored
the GFS and WPC guidance as they displayed a good middle ground
scenario.

&&

.AVIATION...Southern panhandle will see lower conditions due to
the snow tonight and clouds lowering to IFR or MVFR levels.
Northern panhandle's main issue will be turbulence near terrain,
and possibly low level wind shear if its near an interior passage
with outflow winds.

&&

.MARINE...Gale to Storm force winds in the next 24 to 48 hours
primarily due to outflow patterns. Bumped up the seas in Lynn
Canal and Chatham for enhanced fully developed or nearly so sea
states that will be above the standard wave forecasts for wind
spreads. Northern inner channels should also have light to heavy
freezing spray in the forecast as well.

&&

.AJK Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
PUBLIC...Winter Storm Watch from Thursday evening through Friday morning
     for AKZ023-026>028.
     Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM AKST
     Thursday for AKZ027-028.
     High Wind Watch from late Thursday night through Saturday
     evening for AKZ025.
     Strong Wind from late tonight through Thursday afternoon for
     AKZ025.
     Strong Wind through Thursday afternoon for AKZ018.
     Wind Chill Advisory from midnight tonight to 3 AM AKST Sunday
     for AKZ018.
MARINE...Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ012.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ013.
     Gale Warning for PKZ012-013-022.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ021-031-032-041>043-051>053.

&&

Bezenek/EAL

Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 8, 11:45 AM AKST, 3 hours 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
1145 AM AKST WED JAN 8 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 AM     SNOW             W SITKA                 57.05N 135.34W
01/08/2020  M7.5 INCH                           AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL. 6.5 INCHES FELL FROM 7AM TO 10PM
            YESTERDAY. ONLY AN INCH FELL OVERNIGHT.

&&

CMOORE

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 8, 3:08 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK13 hr
Jan 8, 3:08 PM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAJK11 days
Jan 9, 4:02 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK48 hr
Jan 9, 4:11 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK48 hr
Jan 9, 4:11 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK3 days
Jan 9, 4:11 AM AKSTStorm WarningAJK48 hr
Jan 9, 4:11 AM AKSTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAJK4 days
Jan 9, 4:42 AM AKSTHigh Wind WarningAJK43 hr
Jan 9, 4:42 AM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAJK40 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.