Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2023

Gale Warning 293, NWS Anchorage, AK

April 22, 2023

NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Apr 22, 2023, 3:42 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
Apr 22, 2023, 3:42 AM AKDT (11:42 UTC)
Expired
Apr 24, 2023, 3:54 AM AKDT
In force
48 hr
Issued by
NWS Anchorage, AK

The text

As transmitted.

447 
FZAK62 PAFC 221142
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
342 AM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023

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.

PKZ499-230015-
342 AM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 976 mb low stalls over Kamchatka through Mon morning. Its front
moves east to the Central Aleutians and the Pribilofs through Mon
morning, when a 1003 mb low develops near 56N 175W.

$$

PKZ411-230015-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
342 AM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 35 to 50 kt. Seas 11 to 19 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 35 to 45 kt diminishing to 25 to 40 kt after
midnight. Seas 14 to 22 ft. Rain.
.SUN...S wind 20 to 35 kt diminishing to 10 to 25 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SW wind up to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft.
.MON...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.

$$

PKZ412-230015-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
342 AM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.MON...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.

$$

PKZ413-230015-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
342 AM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain.
.SUN NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.MON THROUGH WED...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.

$$

PKZ414-230015-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
342 AM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023

.TODAY...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...E wind up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft.
.MON...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.

$$
4 follow-up statements
613 
FZAK62 PAFC 222347
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
347 PM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023

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.

PKZ499-231415-
347 PM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 976 mb low stalls over Kamchatka through Mon afternoon. Its 
front moves from the Western Aleutians through the Bering Sea to 
the Eastern Aleutians through Mon afternoon, when a 1000 mb low 
develops near 56N 173W.

$$

PKZ411-231415-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
347 PM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 35 to 45 kt diminishing to 25 to 40 kt after
midnight. Seas 15 to 23 ft. Rain.
.SUN...S wind 20 to 35 kt diminishing to 10 to 25 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 11 to 19 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.MON...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.

$$

PKZ412-231415-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
347 PM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023

.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain.
.SUN NIGHT...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain and snow.
.MON...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft.

$$

PKZ413-231415-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
347 PM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.SUN...S wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Rain.
.SUN NIGHT...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. Rain.
.MON...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft.
.MON NIGHT...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.

$$

PKZ414-231415-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
347 PM AKDT Sat Apr 22 2023

.TONIGHT...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas up to 3 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 5 ft. Rain.
.MON...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 7 ft.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
.THU...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 5 ft.

$$
513 
FZAK62 PAFC 231207
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
407 AM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023

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.

PKZ499-240045-
407 AM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A front moves from the Western Aleutians and Bering towards the 
Eastern Aleutians and the Pribilofs through Mon afternoon. A
1000 mb low develops at 57N 175W Mon morning and then moves to 57N
161W at 992 mb Tue morning. 

$$

PKZ411-240045-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
407 AM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...S wind 20 to 35 kt diminishing to 15 to 25 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 12 to 20 ft.
.TONIGHT...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft.
.MON...W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft.

$$

PKZ412-240045-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
407 AM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Rain and snow.
.MON...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Snow and rain.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft.

$$

PKZ413-240045-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
407 AM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...S wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain.
.MON...W wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft.
.MON NIGHT...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.

$$

PKZ414-240045-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
407 AM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023

.TODAY...N wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 1 to 3 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 to 5 ft. 
Rain.
.MON...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7 ft.
Freezing spray. Snow.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 8
ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3
to 6 ft.

$$
638 
FZAK62 PAFC 232351
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
351 PM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023

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.

PKZ499-241300-
351 PM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 1000 mb low will develop on a front in the Central Bering
Sun night near 56N 175W. The low will then deepen to 995 mb at 56N 
172W Mon afternoon. By Tuesday afternoon the low will be at 57N 173W 
at 995 mb. 

$$

PKZ411-241300-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
351 PM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023

.TONIGHT...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 10 to 13 ft.
.MON...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. Snow.
.TUE...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.

$$

PKZ412-241300-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
351 PM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023

.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. Rain and snow.
.MON...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft. Snow and rain.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.TUE...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ413-241300-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
351 PM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023

...GALE WARNING MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. Rain.
.MON...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain and snow.
.TUE...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft.

$$

PKZ414-241300-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
351 PM AKDT Sun Apr 23 2023

.TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 to 5 ft.
Rain and snow.
.MON...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7 ft.
Freezing spray. Snow and rain.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7
ft. Freezing spray. Snow showers and rain showers.
.TUE...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...NW wind up to 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 6
ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 
5 ft.
.FRI...E wind up to 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters up to 4 ft.

$$
692 
FZAK62 PAFC 241154
OFFALU

Offshore Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
354 AM AKDT Mon Apr 24 2023

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.

PKZ499-250100-
354 AM AKDT Mon Apr 24 2023
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 1000 mb low at 56N 175W moves to 56N 162W at 993 mb late Tue 
morning.

$$

PKZ411-250100-
Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International
Dateline-
354 AM AKDT Mon Apr 24 2023

.TODAY...W wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain and snow.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Snow.
.TUE...N wind 15 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...N wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft.

$$

PKZ412-250100-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N-
354 AM AKDT Mon Apr 24 2023

.TODAY...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. Snow and rain.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 to 30 kt becoming N 20 kt after midnight. Seas
8 to 11 ft. Freezing spray. Snow.
.TUE...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray in the morning.
.TUE NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft.

$$

PKZ413-250100-
Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N-
354 AM AKDT Mon Apr 24 2023

.TODAY...W wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. Snow and rain.
.TUE...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft.
.TUE NIGHT...N wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft.

$$

PKZ414-250100-
Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W-
354 AM AKDT Mon Apr 24 2023

.TODAY...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 6 ft.
Snow and rain.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7 ft.
Freezing spray. Snow.
.TUE...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 7 ft.
Freezing spray in the morning.
.TUE NIGHT...NW wind up to 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 to 6
ft.
.WED THROUGH FRI...W wind up to 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3
to
6 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 Apr 21, 5:21 PM AKDT, 10 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 21, 5:21 PM AKDT, 10 hours 21 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
521 PM AKDT Fri Apr 21 2023

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...

High pressure centered over the Arctic Ocean has a ridge
stretching over Alaska. This ridge is producing clear skies and
warmer temperatures with temperatures in the 50s to near 60 across
Southcentral. Across the Southwest and AKPen temperatures range
from the low 40s to low 50s with 40s across the Aleutian Island
chain. A shortwave currently over northern Alaska is moving south
with high clouds increasing ahead of it which will move over
Southcentral later this evening. Across the Bering an upper level
low is moving west with very little sensible weather other than a
few showers based on satellite trends.

&&

.MODEL DISCUSSION...

Models are in good agreement through Monday. However, there are
some minor differences of the evolution of weak surface lows that
form over the northern Gulf on Monday. This will affect how far
inland the precipitation develops. The main forecast challenge in
the short term will be temperatures Saturday through Monday as the
models have struggled especially with high temperatures.
Otherwise, nailing down precipitation type across the Copper
River Basin on Saturday will be challenging, but it does look
likely that a mix of rain and snow after midnight into the early
morning hours will change over to snow later in the morning.

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist through
Saturday.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3:
Tonight through Monday)...

After today's gorgeous weather, a pattern change will develop for
the weekend as the dominating ridge breaks down over Southcentral
in response to a deep arctic trough moving in from the north.
This trough will usher an unseasonably cold airmass with
precipitation spreading from north to south.

Models remain fairly consistent with the orientation and position
of the trough farther east, leaving the best dynamics and
precipitation in the Copper River Basin and surrounding mountains.
Precipitation may initially start out as snow/rain mix Saturday
morning with the warmer airmass in place, before shifting to all
snow as colder air filters in. Most of the snow accumulations will
be at higher elevation, but 1-3 inches is possible for the lower
elevation. By midday Saturday, precipitation for the lower
elevation changes back to rain as temperatures climbs up in the
mid 30s and low 40s.

Elsewhere, snowfall is expected mostly along the north and
eastern facing slopes of the Chugach and Eastern Kenai Mountains,
with light accumulations expected. Coastal areas also look
favorable for rain/snow showers through Monday as a surface low
develops over the Gulf. Meanwhile, a tightening pressure gradient
will increase winds through the gaps and passes through early next
week as the colder air is pulled into the Gulf by the low.

&&

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA AND BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS
(Days 1 through 3: Tonight through Monday)...

The high pressure ridge that has brought warm temperatures over
the past few days is in the process of retreating to the northwest
as two troughs converge over the Central Bering through the
weekend. The eastern trough currently over the northwest Interior
will drop south over Southcentral through the weekend. To the west
of the trough axis, a dry and unseasonably cold airmass will move
into Southwest and the Alaska Peninsula starting Saturday
afternoon, where it will persist into early next week. This will
result in temperatures cooling gradually through early next week,
with highs in the upper 20s to low 30s. To the far west, the other
trough will push it's front into the Western Aleutians overnight
tonight, bringing storm force winds and rain to the area. The
front will then weaken as it pushes east, reaching the Eastern
Aleutians and Pribilofs early Monday morning with 25 kt winds and
rain.

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Tuesday through
Friday)...

An active pattern across Southern Alaska looks to define the
long-term period as a series of low pressure systems look to sweep
through our region. Tuesday morning a vertically stacked low
pressure system located just south of the Alaska Peninsula aims to
push across Kodiak Island and into Southcentral throughout the
day Tuesday. This system appears to bring a rain/snow mix that
will persist until the following low moving in from the
southwestern Gulf pushes across Kodiak Wednesday night and
Southcentral by Thursday morning. The latter of the systems
appears to bring the potential for more gusty easterly winds,
primarily along the Southcentral coastline. This series of systems
is also expected to be accompanied by a warming trend, as winds
from the southern Gulf of Alaska is pulled into our area. This
will likely serve to change precipitation in Southcentral over to
all rain if the initial onset was snow or mixed. Out west, an
upper- level Arctic low will have dropped into the Central Bering
by Tuesday morning. This system will create an unsettled pattern
across the Aleutian Chain and Southwest Alaska featuring the
passage of several weak frontal boundaries and general showery
activity through next week. Additionally, the low pressure in the
eastern Bering will pull down an Arctic airmass through the Bering
Strait, reaching the Pribilofs Tuesday morning and the Chain by
Wednesday afternoon. This will likely drop the temperatures for
the week, and shift the rain showers in the area over to snow or
at least a rain/snow mix depending on surface level thermal
momentum.

&&

SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...RC
SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...MF
SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...CJ
LONG TERM...CL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 22, 2:52 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC13 hr
Apr 22, 2:52 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC13 hr
Apr 22, 4:02 AM AKDTBrisk Wind AdvisoryAFC24 hr
Apr 22, 4:02 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Apr 22, 4:02 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC3 days
Apr 22, 3:47 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Apr 22, 3:48 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC12 hr
Apr 22, 3:48 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC3 days
Apr 22, 3:48 PM AKDTHeavy Freezing Spray WarningAFC3 days
Apr 22, 3:55 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC24 hr
Apr 22, 3:55 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC24 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2023Every gale warning in 2023

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.