Alert archive / Alaska / Gale Warnings in 2023

Gale Warning 558, NWS Anchorage, AK

October 4, 2023

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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 3, 4:35 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC47 hr
Oct 3, 4:35 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC59 hr
Oct 4, 2:58 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC25 hr
Oct 4, 2:58 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC25 hr
Oct 4, 4:03 AM AKDTGale WarningAFC48 hr
Oct 4, 4:03 AM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC48 hr
Oct 4, 2:46 PM AKDTSmall Craft AdvisoryAFC25 hr
Oct 4, 2:46 PM AKDTStorm WarningAFC25 hr
Oct 4, 3:02 PM AKDTGale WarningAFC13 hr
Oct 4, 3:02 PM AKDTStorm WarningAFC13 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.