Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2023
Gale Warning 558, NWS Anchorage, AK
NWS Anchorage, AK issued this gale warning at Oct 4, 2023, 4:03 AM AKDT. It was in force for 35 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
- Oct 4, 2023, 4:03 AM AKDT (12:03 UTC)
- Expired
- Oct 5, 2023, 3:16 PM AKDT
- In force
- 35 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Anchorage, AK
The text
As transmitted.
277 FZAK62 PAFC 041203 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 403 AM AKDT Wed Oct 4 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. PKZ499-050145- 403 AM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 976 mb low at 55N 175E moves to 51N 174E at 995 mb Thu afternoon. A North Pacific low moves to 56N 163W at 982 mb by Thu afternoon. Its front extends over the Alaska Peninsula through Thu afternoon. $$ PKZ411-050145- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 403 AM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...S wind 25 to 40 kt. Seas 12 to 20 ft. Rain. .TONIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .THU...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .FRI THROUGH SAT...N wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .SUN...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. $$ PKZ412-050145- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 403 AM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...SE wind 25 to 40 kt diminishing to 20 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 9 to 17 ft. Rain. .TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .THU...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 12 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. $$ PKZ413-050145- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 403 AM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...SE wind 25 to 40 kt diminishing to 15 to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 8 to 16 ft. .TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .THU...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. .THU NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .FRI THROUGH SUN...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ414-050145- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 403 AM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY... .TODAY...E wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .THU...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. Rain. .THU NIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .FRI THROUGH SAT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. .SUN...N wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. $$
3 follow-up statements
876 FZAK62 PAFC 042300 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 300 PM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-051315- 300 PM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 986 mb low at 51N 160W moves to 57N 164W at 989 mb for Fri afternoon. Its front extends into the Gulf of Alaska through Fri afternoon. A 982 mb low near 56N 172E loops around the Aleutians to 50N 175E at 1001 mb by Fri afternoon. Its front dissipates Thu afternoon. $$ PKZ411-051315- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 300 PM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 .TONIGHT...SE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .THU...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft. .FRI...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. .SAT...N wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. .SUN...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .MON...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. $$ PKZ412-051315- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 300 PM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 .TONIGHT...E wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .THU...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft. .FRI...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .FRI NIGHT...N wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .SAT THROUGH SUN...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .MON...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. $$ PKZ413-051315- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 300 PM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 .TONIGHT...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 9 ft. .THU...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. .THU NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .FRI...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .FRI NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. .SAT THROUGH MON...W wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. $$ PKZ414-051315- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 300 PM AKDT Wed Oct 4 2023 ...GALE WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY... .TONIGHT...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .THU...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft. Rain. .THU NIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .FRI...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .FRI NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. .SAT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. .SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. $$
528 FZAK62 PAFC 051142 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 342 AM AKDT Thu Oct 5 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. PKZ499-060045- 342 AM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 983 mb low at 54N 160W moves to 56N 163W at 986 mb Fri morning and lingers through Sat afternoon. $$ PKZ411-060045- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 342 AM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 .TODAY...E wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 11 ft. .FRI...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. .SAT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. .SUN...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .MON...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. $$ PKZ412-060045- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 342 AM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 .TODAY...NE wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .TONIGHT...NE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft. .FRI...NE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 9 to 14 ft. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 12 ft. .SAT THROUGH SUN...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .MON...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. $$ PKZ413-060045- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 342 AM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 .TODAY...NE wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 8 ft. Rain. .TONIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .FRI...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 10 ft. .FRI NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. .SAT THROUGH MON...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 10 ft. $$ PKZ414-060045- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 342 AM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 ...GALE WARNING TODAY... .TODAY...NE wind 20 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 15 ft. Rain. .TONIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .FRI...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .FRI NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .SAT THROUGH MON...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. $$
842 FZAK62 PAFC 052316 OFFALU Offshore Waters Forecast National Weather Service Anchorage AK 316 PM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height. PKZ499-061300- 316 PM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 .SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA... A 983 mb low at 57N 164W loops to 56N 165W at 993 mb by Sat afternoon. Its front wraps over the Bering into Western Alaska through Sat afternoon. A series of lows moving along a front approach the Western Aleutians for Sat afternoon. $$ PKZ411-061300- Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline- 316 PM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 .TONIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 12 ft. .FRI...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. .SAT...N wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. .SAT NIGHT...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. .SUN...NW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .MON THROUGH TUE...SW wind up to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. $$ PKZ412-061300- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and North of 56N- 316 PM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 ...GALE WARNING TONIGHT... .TONIGHT...NE wind 25 to 35 kt. Seas 9 to 16 ft. .FRI...NE wind 20 to 30 kt. Seas 13 ft. .FRI NIGHT...NE wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 12 ft. .SAT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 8 to 11 ft. .SAT NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. .SUN...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. .MON...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. .TUE...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. $$ PKZ413-061300- Bering Sea Offshore 171W to 180 and South of 56N- 316 PM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 .TONIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .FRI...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .FRI NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. .SAT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. .SAT NIGHT...NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Seas 7 to 10 ft. .SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .TUE...SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 7 ft. $$ PKZ414-061300- Bering Sea Offshore East of 171W- 316 PM AKDT Thu Oct 5 2023 .TONIGHT...N wind 15 to 30 kt. Seas 8 to 13 ft. .FRI...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 11 ft. .FRI NIGHT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .SAT...N wind 10 to 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. .SAT NIGHT...N wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft. .SUN THROUGH MON...NW wind 10 to 25 kt. Seas 5 to 9 ft. .TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. $$
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 Oct 3, 5:22 PM AKDT, 10 hours 41 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Oct 3, 5:22 PM AKDT, 10 hours 41 minutes before
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Anchorage AK 522 PM AKDT Tue Oct 3 2023 .ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS... One shortwave moving over the PWS area has moved east, as another shortwave moves southeast across the interior, just brushing the northern portion of the forecast area where light rain showers have been noted in the Bethel area. A ridge of high pressure stretched north across the central Aleutians and eastern Bering. Farther west, a front is pushing north across the western Aleutian Islands, bringing widespread rain, gusty winds, and waves to 20 ft. && .MODEL DISCUSSION... Models continue in fairly good agreement on the overall synoptic pattern. The shortwave over the interior will continue on it's southeastward trajectory. A low pressure system moving north toward the eastern Aleutians and the low moving toward the western Bering is progged to reorient the high pressure ridge to align west-east across west-central AK by Thursday morning. Medium range models show the center of the western low roughly over the far western Aleutian islands with the other just south of Unimak Island. East of this low, strong southerly winds will usher in a deep layer of relatively warm, moist air from the eastern Aleutians eastward across the Gulf, that could persist through Friday. && .AVIATION... PANC...VFR conditions will persist Tuesday and most of the day Wednesday before clouds roll in at the tail end of the TAF period as precip approaches from the south. Winds will remain light northerly. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3: Tonight through Thursday night)... Using latest satellite imagery, clear skies are found over southcentral Alaska this afternoon. But looking farther south, the next weather maker can be found. An area of low pressure will track northward towards southwest Alaska and the Aleutians. A front associated with the low will swing towards the southern coast, should reach the coast Wednesday night. Along the front will be elevated wind speeds, upwards of 25 to 40 kts for marine areas, land areas will see sustained wind speeds around 10 to 20 mph. Higher wind gusts likely. This front will also bring precip. While rain is mostly expected, some snow is possible before the warmer air arrives. Confidence is high that coastal locations will see rain with this event. However, there should be enough cold air in place across the Copper River Basin for at least a couple of inches of snow before the snow mixes with or changes over to rain Thursday afternoon. A similar scenario is also possible for the Susitna Valley; however, there is a higher level of uncertainty as to how much cold air will be in place at the start of the event. Currently, it looks like areas around Willow and Skwentna could see some snow before a changeover to rain. && .SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3, TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY)... Predominately dry and cool conditions, with nighttime lows around freezing for the near-term across the Southwest - the first prominent bout of colder temperatures into Southwest this Fall. Elsewhere along the Aleutians, overnight temperatures in the 40s will prevail. The focus of this discussion will be on the two low pressure systems affecting the west. The first is currently moving from west to east bringing light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds (up to gale-force) over a vast swath of the western Aleutians and surrounding marine areas. This system will slow and fizzle by Wednesday morning as the low to the south of the eastern Aleutians and western AKPen continues to propagate northward. This system will bring widespread gusty gale-force winds (as far north as Bristol Bay) and mixed precipitation to the region, spreading northward across the southwest where cold air is already in place. Light snow is forecast for interior locations, rain to coastal areas, and a rain-snow mix is forecast for the area in between beginning as early as Wednesday night as the system progresses north. There is a period where freezing rain may be noted across areas of the Lower Kuskokwim early Thursday through the afternoon. For now, while confidence in low in this occurring (3-8% chance of occurrence), have chosen to not add this into the forecast, but will have to continue to monitor as the forecast evolves. Upper level support for this system transitions east Thursday night and early Friday, with the low quickly losing strength over the period. Should see it drop south of the AKPen as it fizzles into the weekend. Lastly, Shishaldin is still lofting ash, as detected on satellite imagery. Areas south and west could see trace amounts of ash under the current pattern. Please see the current Special Weather Statement for further information. && .LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Saturday through Tuesday)... A well developed upper level longwave trough extends across the Bering into the Gulf of Alaska through Tuesday. Several model defined embedded surface low centers will transit through and around the trough on various tracks, bringing unsettled weather across the region. This pattern is expected to continue through the end of the forecast period. Saturday opens with a low centered over the Alaska Peninsula, and is accompanied by a front spreading precipitation across much of southern mainland Alaska. Rainfall will be heaviest along the Eastern Kenai Peninsula Coast all the way over to the Copper River Delta and Canadian Border with lesser amounts, but possibly mixed rain and snow inland, and tapering off through Tuesday. Northeasterly winds drawn from Interior Alaska through the Kuskokwim Delta will result in gusty offshore winds increasing to near gale force for Kuskokwim Bay and parts of Bristol Bay and gap winds off the Alaska Peninsula and Barren Islands for Sunday into Tuesday. Gusty winds across the Pribilofs to the Aleutians Sunday through Tuesday. A weak ridge over the Western Bering yields to a North Pacific low center moving along the Pacific side of the Western Aleutians for the end of the period. && SYNOPSIS AND MODEL DISCUSSION...NR SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...GS SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...AB LONG TERM...MK
The office that day
Everything else NWS Anchorage, AK issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 4:35 PM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 47 hr | |
| Oct 3, 4:35 PM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 59 hr | |
| Oct 4, 2:58 AM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 25 hr | |
| Oct 4, 2:58 AM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 25 hr | |
| Oct 4, 4:03 AM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Oct 4, 4:03 AM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 48 hr | |
| Oct 4, 2:46 PM AKDT | Small Craft Advisory | AFC | 25 hr | |
| Oct 4, 2:46 PM AKDT | Storm Warning | AFC | 25 hr | |
| Oct 4, 3:02 PM AKDT | Gale Warning | AFC | 13 hr | |
| Oct 4, 3:02 PM AKDT | Storm Warning | AFC | 13 hr |
Nearby
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.