Gale Watch 1, NWS Eureka, CA

040 
WHUS76 KEKA 022232
MWWEKA

URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Eureka CA
232 PM PST Thu Jan 2 2020

PZZ470-030645-
/O.EXT.KEKA.SC.Y.0121.000000T0000Z-200103T2200Z/
/O.UPG.KEKA.GL.A.0001.200103T2100Z-200104T0500Z/
/O.NEW.KEKA.GL.W.0001.200103T2200Z-200104T0600Z/
Pt St George to Cape Mendocino 10 to 60 nm-
232 PM PST Thu Jan 2 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PST FRIDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM TO 10 PM PST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...For the Gale Warning, south winds 25 to 35 kt with gusts
  up to 40 kt late Friday afternoon through Friday evening. Seas 
  building to 13 to 15 feet Friday night through Saturday. For the
  Small Craft Advisory, seas 9 to 11 feet tonight through Friday 
  morning.

* WHERE...Pt St George to Cape Mendocino 10 to 60 nm.

* WHEN...For the Gale Warning, from 2 PM to 10 PM PST Friday. 
  For the Small Craft Advisory, until 2 PM PST Friday.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could 
  capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions.
Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the
vessel for severe conditions.

&&

$$

PZZ450-455-475-030645-
/O.CON.KEKA.SC.Y.0121.000000T0000Z-200105T2300Z/
Pt St George to Cape Mendocino out 10 nm-
Cape Mendocino to Pt Arena out 10 nm-
Cape Mendocino to Pt Arena 10 to 60 nm-
232 PM PST Thu Jan 2 2020

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Southerly winds 15 to 25 kt late Friday afternoon through
  Friday night. Seas 9 to 11 ft tonight through Friday morning, 
  then building to 13 to 15 ft Friday night through Saturday. 
  

* WHERE...Pt St George to Cape Mendocino out 10 nm, Pt St George 
  to Cape Mendocino 10 to 60 nm, Cape Mendocino to Pt Arena out 
  10 nm and Cape Mendocino to Pt Arena 10 to 60 nm.

* WHEN...Until 3 PM PST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
404 AM PST Thu Jan 2 2020

.SYNOPSIS...Other than areas of morning fog...mainly sunny skies
are expected today and tomorrow as weak offshore flow and high
pressure combine to bring a brief period of dry weather to the
region. Another fast-moving front will bring more light to
moderate rain to the region late on Friday and into Saturday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...High pressure over the Eastern Pacific will build
back into the region today leading to a brief period of mild and
dry conditions through most of Friday. Another frontal system
will approach the area late Friday, brining another shot at rain
for the forecast area Friday evening into Saturday morning. The
next front will be more potent, but will also be fast-moving, so
rainfall will again be rather limited. Amounts may exceed an inch
over portions of Del Norte County, while Humboldt will be more in
the quarter to three- quarters of an inch range. Eastern Trinity
and Mendocino will see rainfall closer to a tenth of an inch. The
bulk of the precipitation should fall Friday night into Saturday
morning, but that timing could still change. Colder air will
follow, with perhaps some minor snow accumulations down to 4000
feet or so as precipitation tapers off on Saturday...however at
this time precipitation amounts during this cooler airmass my not
be sufficient to warrant any winter weather advisories.  Another
shortwave will pass by on Saturday night or Sunday, but it is not
clear how much precipitation will make it into northern
California. Some impacts could be possible over the mountain
passes that day if that system does track far enough south, as
snow levels are expected to be near or below 3000 feet. Next best
chance of rain looks to occur Tuesday night as another front
crosses the region.

&&

.AVIATION...Mid and high cloud cover dissipating leaving mainly
clear skies across the region. Very low clouds and fog is
persisting across the coast and interior valleys, however, as
plenty of surface moisture persists after yesterdays rain.
Widespread vfr conditions are expected once the low clouds and fog
burns off and should remain vfr overnight as weak offshore flow
kicks in late tonight.

&&

.MARINE...Main issues across the waters continue to center around
a large WNW swell that is gradually subsiding and should fall to
near 10 ft by Friday. West and northwest winds will give way to
increasing south winds on Friday ahead of the next cold front.
Wind-driven short period waves and a westerly swell system will
cause seas to build to 15 to 17 feet by Saturday morning. North
winds will return late in the weekend and seas will subside
through early next week.

&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...High Surf Advisory until 10 AM PST this morning for CAZ101-103-
     104-109.

NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PST Sunday for PZZ450-455-470-
     475.

&&

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For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.png

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Eureka CA
201 AM PST Thu Jan 2 2020

CAZ102-105>108-110>113-031015-
Del Norte Interior-Northern Humboldt Interior-
Southern Humboldt Interior-Northern Trinity-Southern Trinity-
Northwestern Mendocino Interior-Northeastern Mendocino Interior-
Southwestern Mendocino Interior-Southeastern Mendocino Interior-
201 AM PST Thu Jan 2 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest California.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

CAZ101-103-104-109-031015-
Coastal Del Norte-Northern Humboldt Coast-Southwestern Humboldt-
Mendocino Coast-
201 AM PST Thu Jan 2 2020

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest California.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   High Surf Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   High Surf Advisory.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.