Gale Warning 271, NWS Anchorage, AK

Issued

Mar 7, 2024, 2:39 PM AKST (23:39 UTC)

Expired

Mar 8, 2024, 3:30 AM AKST

In force

13 hr

Issued by

NWS Anchorage, AK

072 
FZAK51 PAFC 072339
CWFAER

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Northern Gulf of Alaska Coast
up to 100 nm out including Kodiak Island and Cook Inlet.

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.

PKZ197-081230-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST+KODIAK ISLAND WATERS+
COOK INLET...

A 974 mb North Pacific low loops over the Eastern Gulf to 15 nm 
West of Middleton Island at 985 mb for Sat afternoon. Its front 
wraps across the Gulf and North Gulf Coast through Sat afternoon.

$$

PKZ710-081230-
Cape Suckling to Gravel Point out to 15 NM-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 20 kt becoming N 30 kt after midnight. 
Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. Rain and snow.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE...S wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ711-081230-
Gravel Point to Cape Cleare out to 15 NM-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 25 kt becoming NW 20 kt overnight. 
Seas 7 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. Snow and rain.
.SAT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...E wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TUE...S wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ712-081230-
Cape Suckling to Cape Cleare from 15 to 75 NM-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 20 kt becoming N 25 kt after midnight. 
Seas 7 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Rain and snow.
.SAT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...S wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE...S wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ715-081230-
Cape Cleare to Gore Point out to 15 NM-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 25 kt becoming NW 20 kt overnight. 
Seas 7 ft.
.FRI...N wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. Snow.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ716-081230-
Cape Cleare to Gore Point from 15 to 75 NM-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt becoming N 20 kt after midnight. 
Seas 8 ft.
.FRI...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. Snow and rain.
.SAT...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TUE...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ714-081230-
Resurrection Bay-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt increasing to 25 kt after midnight. 
Seas 2 ft building to 5 ft after midnight.
.FRI...N wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN...S wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...S wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ724-081230-
Northwest Prince William Sound-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

.TONIGHT...N wind 10 kt becoming NW 15 kt after midnight. 
Seas building to 3 ft.
.FRI...W wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Snow.
.SAT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ725-081230-
Central and Eastern Prince William Sound-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

.TONIGHT...N wind increasing to 20 kt. Seas building to 4 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ726-081230-
Southwest Prince William Sound-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

.TONIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.FRI...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Snow.
.SAT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN...E wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...S wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ720-081230-
Port of Valdez-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

.TONIGHT...E wind 10 kt increasing to 15 kt after midnight. 
Gusts to 25 kt late. Seas building to 3 ft. Freezing spray 
after midnight.
.FRI...E wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt in the afternoon. 
Seas 3 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT THROUGH TUE...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ721-081230-
Valdez Narrows-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 20 kt increasing to 30 kt after midnight. 
Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray after midnight.
.FRI...NE wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon. 
Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray in the morning.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.SAT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SAT NIGHT THROUGH TUE...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ722-081230-
Valdez Arm-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt increasing to 25 kt after midnight. 
Seas building to 5 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.FRI NIGHT AND SAT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SAT NIGHT THROUGH TUE...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ723-081230-
Passage Canal-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

.TONIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt becoming W 20 kt 
after midnight. Gusts to 30 kt near Whittier late. Seas 2 ft.
.FRI...W wind 20 kt. Gusts to 30 kt near Whittier. Seas 2 ft. 
.FRI NIGHT...W wind 20 kt. Gusts to 30 kt near Whittier. 
Seas 2 ft. Snow. 
.SAT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ730-081230-
West of Barren Islands Including Kamishak Bay-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 20 kt becoming NW 30 kt after midnight. 
Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...W wind 35 kt. Seas 12 ft. Freezing spray.
.SAT...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W wind 35 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ731-081230-
Barren Islands East-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW wind increasing to 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Snow.
.FRI...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing spray.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ733-081230-
Gore Point to Marmot Island from 15 to 80 NM-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 25 kt becoming N 15 kt late. Seas 8 ft.
.FRI...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ732-081230-
Marmot Island to Sitkinak out to 15 NM-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW wind increasing to 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Snow and rain.
.FRI...NW wind 25 kt diminishing to 15 kt in the afternoon. 
Seas 6 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ734-081230-
Marmot Island To Sitkinak from 15 to 85 NM-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW wind increasing to 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.FRI...NW wind 25 kt diminishing to 15 kt in the afternoon. 
Seas 9 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 15 kt increasing to 25 kt in the afternoon. 
Seas 9 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.

$$

PKZ736-081230-
Chiniak Bay-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt becoming NW 25 kt after midnight. 
Seas 3 ft. Rain and snow.
.FRI...NW wind 20 kt diminishing to 10 kt in the afternoon. 
Seas 3 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 10 kt increasing to 15 kt after midnight.
Seas 2 ft.
.SAT...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...W wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ737-081230-
Marmot Bay-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

.TONIGHT...NW wind increasing to 20 kt. Seas 3 ft. Snow and rain.
.FRI...NW wind 20 kt diminishing to 10 kt in the afternoon. 
Seas 3 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 10 kt increasing to 15 kt after midnight.
Seas 2 ft.
.SAT...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...W wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ738-081230-
Shelikof Strait-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW wind increasing to 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Snow. 
Freezing spray after midnight.
.FRI...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.SAT...W wind 30 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...W wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN THROUGH TUE...W wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ742-081230-
Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

.TONIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 6 ft. 
Freezing spray.
.FRI...N wind 15 kt becoming NE 10 kt in the afternoon. 
Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.SUN...N wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 ft.

$$

PKZ740-081230-
Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt becoming NW 10 kt after midnight.  
Patchy fog.
.FRI...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Patchy fog.
.FRI NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt becoming N 10 kt 
after midnight.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...N wind 10 kt.
.MON...N wind 15 kt.
.TUE...SW wind 15 kt.

$$

PKZ741-081230-
Kachemak Bay-
239 PM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

.TONIGHT...N wind to 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.FRI...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Mar 7, 4:17 AM AKST, 10 hours 22 minutes earlier.

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
417 AM AKST Thu Mar 7 2024

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

A weak shortwave currently over the Kenai Peninsula will continue
to move north and west this morning as weak ridging builds
westward from the northern Gulf of Alaska this afternoon. Snow
showers over the northern Gulf of Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula and
Cook Inlet will continue to push north and west this morning and
will weaken through the day as the shortwave pushes north over the
Susitna Valley and Copper River Basin. As high pressure builds,
and winds diminish, combined with some partial clearing expect low
ceilings and fog to push up Cook Inlet later tonight. Otherwise
expect mostly to partly cloudy skies, light winds and seasonal
temperatures today. This benign pattern is expected to continue
into the early weekend, when a north Pacific low pressure system
approaches the northern Gulf coast from the eastern Gulf. Model
agreement on the track of this system is currently loose, however
it does appear that a system will be approaching with questions
remaining how intense the low will be and what impacts it may
bring to Southcentral. Snowfall associated with this system will
be a focal point of the forecast for the next few days as details
of location, wind direction, upper-level support, and moisture
content come more in line. The track of this low will need to be
carefully monitored as upper level support may overcome typical
lower level downsloping and drying typical of easterly flow for
the Western Kenai Peninsula, the Anchorage Bowl and the Matanuska
and Susitna Valleys with snow possible for these areas Saturday
and Sunday.

-CC

&&

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

A brisk northerly wind will persist into tomorrow resulting
in continued scattered snow showers across the AK Pen and coastal
areas of the Kuskokwim Delta. Inland locations may see a brief
snow shower through noon today. Widespread fog and low stratus
conditions will continue into late this morning across Southwest
Alaska before slowly lifting through the afternoon. Cooler
conditions are expected in Southwest Alaska for the weekend under
continued northerly winds.

The strong wind gusts and current scattered rain and snow showers
in the Aleutians will subside by this afternoon as a ridge builds
into the area. This weak ridge building into the Central
Aleutians will bring a short-lived reprieve to the active weather
as a 950 mb Bering low approaches from the west. The low will
arrive overnight into Friday resulting in increased winds and a
return to snow and rain showers. The precipitation type will fall
as mostly snow during the event. The lack of upper level support
and its transition to a 970 mb low Friday afternoon, confidence
remains moderate that over land wind gusts will stay below high
wind criteria. As the storm's front moves over the Central
Aleutians, a brief change from snow to a rain snow mix Friday
afternoon is possible. A brief respite from the storm is likely
Saturday morning as a ridge builds into the area. Another chance
of unsettled weather for the latter part of this weekend is likely
though with the arrival of another, at this moment, weaker 980 mb
low.

-DJ

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7) Sunday through Wednesday...

The entire weather pattern shifts slightly Southward during the
forecast period. This results in some forecast confidence changes
that becomes somewhat uncertain due to the adjusted tracks and
strengths through Wednesday. The pattern also simplifies with a
ridge over the Bering and a trough across Mainland Alaska and the
Gulf, and the North Pacific influences moved away from the
Aleutians. But upper level shortwaves through the pattern bring
out active weather conditions in nearly all areas.

A well developed low and front slip along the Aleutians and exits
to the North Pacific near the Alaska Peninsula for Monday. Gusty
Easterly winds stretch Westward over the Bering. A series of
weaker lows and fronts track along and South of the Aleutians
through Wednesday. Winds increasing to gale force spread over Thu
Western Aleutians Tuesday. Widespread mixed rain and snow changes
to rain, with gusty winds spread over the Aleutians and Southern
Bering into the Alaska Peninsula. Weak troughs moving along the
West Coast into Southwest Alaska through the end of the period.

A deep upper level trough over the Mainland helps draw another
round of Arctic air over the Eastern Bering and Western half of
Alaska, and spreading across the state through the period. A
moderately strong low loops and lingers over the Gulf diminishes
Wednesday, spreading rain, occasionally heavy along the Copper
River Delta, becoming snow further inland. Gusty coastal winds
return for late Monday through Tuesday, building a gale force
barrier jet along the North Gulf Coast early Tuesday.

Kutz

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...VFR conditions with ceilings above 5000 ft and light
northerly winds will continue through at least this evening.
Tonight into Friday morning, there is a moderate chance for fog or
IFR/MVFR ceilings to develop around Cook Inlet and move over the
terminal.

CQ

&&

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2024Every gale warning in 2024

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