Gale Warning 977, NWS Anchorage, AK

460 
FZAK51 PAFC 291052
CWFAER

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 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.

PKZ197-292345-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST+KODIAK ISLAND WATERS+
COOK INLET...

The front of a 962 mb Bering low sweeps across the southwestern 
Gulf on Mon morning. The front of a 975 mb North Pacific low at 350
nm south of Kodiak City enters the southern Gulf Tue morning.

$$

PKZ710-292345-
Cape Suckling to Gravel Point out to 15 NM-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Gusts to 45 kt out of 
the Copper River Delta. Seas 7 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Gusts to 45 kt out of 
the Copper River Delta. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...E wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ711-292345-
Gravel Point to Cape Cleare out to 15 NM-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...E wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...E wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ712-292345-
Cape Suckling to Cape Cleare from 15 to 75 NM-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MONDAY...

.TODAY...E wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 35 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...E wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.THU...E wind 25 kt. Seas 14 ft.

$$

PKZ715-292345-
Cape Cleare to Gore Point out to 15 NM-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND MONDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Rain.
.MON...E wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Rain.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ716-292345-
Cape Cleare to Gore Point from 15 to 75 NM-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MONDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...E wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 40 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...E wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.THU...E wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.

$$

PKZ714-292345-
Resurrection Bay-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

.TODAY...N wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas
3 ft.
.TONIGHT...N wind 10 kt becoming Variable wind 15 kt after
midnight. Seas 3 ft. Snow and rain.
.MON...S wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas
3 ft. Rain showers and snow showers.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ724-292345-
Northwest Prince William Sound-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

.TODAY...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ725-292345-
Central and Eastern Prince William Sound-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

.TODAY...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ726-292345-
Southwest Prince William Sound-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

.TODAY...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Snow.
.MON...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Rain.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ720-292345-
Port of Valdez-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

.TODAY...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ721-292345-
Valdez Narrows-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ722-292345-
Valdez Arm-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ723-292345-
Passage Canal-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

.TODAY...W wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Snow showers.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...W wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ730-292345-
West of Barren Islands Including Kamishak Bay-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain and snow.
.TONIGHT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Snow with rain.
.MON...E wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft. Rain and snow.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ731-292345-
Barren Islands East-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TODAY...E wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...E wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 45 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.WED...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.THU...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ733-292345-
Gore Point to Marmot Island from 15 to 80 NM-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND MONDAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...E wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 45 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.TUE...E wind 35 kt. Seas 18 ft.
.WED...E wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.THU...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.

$$

PKZ732-292345-
Marmot Island to Sitkinak out to 15 NM-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TODAY...E wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON...E wind 35 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 50 kt. Seas 18 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 19 ft.
.WED...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ734-292345-
Marmot Island To Sitkinak from 15 to 85 NM-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...E wind 40 kt. Seas 16 ft. Rain.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 45 kt. Seas 21 ft.
.TUE...E wind 45 kt. Seas 21 ft.
.WED...E wind 30 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.THU...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.

$$

PKZ736-292345-
Chiniak Bay-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND MONDAY...

.TODAY...Variable wind less than 10 kt becoming SE 10 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 3 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...E wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. Rain.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 40 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ737-292345-
Marmot Bay-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND MONDAY...

.TODAY...Variable wind less than 10 kt becoming SE 15 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 3 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...E wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. Rain.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 40 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ738-292345-
Shelikof Strait-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TODAY...E wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TONIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...E wind 30 kt increasing to 40 kt in the afternoon. Seas
10 ft.
.MON NIGHT...E wind 45 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.WED...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.THU...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ742-292345-
Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ740-292345-
Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MONDAY...

.TODAY...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ741-292345-
Kachemak Bay-
152 AM AKST Sun Dec 29 2024

.TODAY...NE wind 10 kt increasing to 15 kt in the afternoon. Seas
2 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
413 AM AKST Sat Dec 28 2024

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

The primary hazard over the next few days will be strong
outflow/gap winds, with associated blowing snow and reduced
visibility in areas with transportable snow. A Winter Weather
Advisory remains in effect for Thompson Pass through Sunday
morning, as reports indicate over 8 inches of low-density snow
has fallen in recent days. Winds are currently gusting above 30
mph and are expected to increase later today into Sunday. Blowing
snow concerns should diminish once the snow is sufficiently
scoured out, though strong winds are likely to persist through at
least Monday.

In Whittier and Passage Canal, gusts exceed 30 mph, while Seward
is seeing gusts over 20 mph. Blowing snow is less of an issue in
these areas due to limited snowfall as of late.

For Anchorage and nearby regions, VIIRS Nighttime Microphysics
imagery shows stratus and/or fog across much of the Mat-Su
Valley, extending south into Anchorage, the Turnagain Arm, and
along the Seward Highway into the Kenai Peninsula. Observations
report fog or low ceilings beneath a 3-4 kft stratus deck. Light
northeast winds through the Mat Valley into Knik Arm appear to
have pushed the fog/low stratus deck southward. Until winds
increase and promote mixing, much of this area will likely
alternate between fog, stratus, and/or occasional clear skies
today.

Otherwise, generally quiet weather will persist through the
weekend into early next week. The Gulf of Alaska remains
unsettled, with a few weak areas of low pressure. A more notable
low-level trough is bringing light precipitation this morning from
Prince William Sound north through Valdez and into the Copper
River Basin. Forcing is limited, with some enhancement from a
passing shortwave trough to the north, so snowfall accumulation
is expected to be minimal. Farther south, Cordova airport has
reported snow and rain in recent hours, while the nearby SNOTEL at
Mt. Eyak shows a 3-inch increase in snow depth overnight
coincident with temps hovering near the freezing mark.
Precipitation in all these areas will taper off today as the low
to the south weakens, supported by the HREF showing less than a
10% probability of 1 inch of snow in any populated areas.

Upper-level ridging will amplify across southcentral Alaska this
weekend as the upper-level trough exits. Surface high pressure
will builds into early next week and become centered over Yukon. A
strong pressure gradient will sustain gap winds through Valdez and
the Copper River Delta. Temperatures will remain near or slightly
below climatological norms for most of southcentral Alaska, with
the coldest air since November.

Looking ahead to Monday, confidence is high that southerly flow
and a potential front will enter the area, starting near Kodiak
Island. Light snowfall may also develop on the Gulf side of the
Kenai Peninsula, though model spread remains far too large for
details. Most significant weather appears likely to remain west of
the region, with a generally dry pattern set to prevail across
southcentral Alaska.

-Brown

&&

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

The bulk of the weather will be along the Aleutian Chain working
eastward through Sunday as a front stretches across the Bering and
Aleutians. The attached parent low in the western Bering Sea
nudges northwards and ends up between Attu Island and Kamchatka
Peninsula through today. A second low develops near the base of
the front south of the Eastern Aleutians today and rapidly
strengthens by Sunday morning. The has been some model inconsistency
over the last several days but consensus is showing better
consolidation of the low tracking over the Eastern Aleutians,
placing the stronger winds along the southern Alaska Peninsula.
Areas of storm force winds and higher gusts are likely through
Cold Bay, King Cove, and False Pass, with high end gales
elsewhere. Unalaska will stay mostly out of the area of strongest
winds, but is expected to see a period of gales. The
aforementioned low will spend Sunday and Monday traveling north
across the eastern/central Bering, reaching the Pribilofs by late
Sunday night. Along the Southwest coast, from Pilot Point to
Kipnuk, winds will reach high end small craft to low end gale
force. Stronger winds reaching storm force will remain just
offshore in the eastern Bering and higher gusts are likely
through the gaps and passes north of the Alaska Peninsula.

&&

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

There will be some adjustments to the broad upper level trough
extending from the Russian Far East across the Aleutians and
Bering into the Gulf of Alaska through the forecast period. The
jetstream support for the main storm track sags into the Western
and Central North Pacific and Western Bering. The Eastern portions
remain more or less in place and weaken into a broad trough
through Friday. A number of low centers transit through the
pattern. An upper level ridge builds from the Western Canadian
Provinces across most of Mainland Alaska into the Russian Arctic
Coast. This ridge will help spread drier and cooler weather over
much of the Interior and Southern Alaska.

A series of lows and fronts work their way across the Aleutians
and Bering through the week. Locally moderate precipitation
starting as snow, but changing to rain will spread over the
Aleutians and Bering and into Southwest Alaska and the Alaska
Peninsula. Occasional periods of gusty surface winds will
accompany the fronts. A developing low over the North Pacific
Thursday brings periods of gale force winds into the Western
Aleutians Thursday morning, diminishing Friday morning while
extending the gusty wind field over the Aleutians to the AKPEN. In
the East, a low center meanders around the Gulf with areas of
rain across Kodiak Island, Prince William Sound and the rest of
the Southcentral coasts. Areas of more isolated to scattered snow
are expected further inland. Widespread Easterly gusty winds with
patches of gale force gusts near Kodiak Island occur Tuesday
through Wednesday night, diminishing.

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...A combination of low stratus and freezing fog currently (as
of 4am) sits below 3-4kft ceiling across much of the Anchorage
area. Webcams and nearby observations suggest a light northerly
wind across the Knik Arm has pushed these IFR/LIFR ceilings close
to the Anchorage Airport. Included a tempo group in the 12z TAF to
account for this, though confidence is admittedly low.

Conditions should improve by later this afternoon as light
northeast winds should mix out and dry the lower atmosphere. Once
that occurs, VFR conditions with no ceilings and a light northeast
wind are to prevail into Sunday.

-Brown

&&

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
National Weather Service ANCHORAGE AK
257 PM AKST Sat Dec 28 2024

AKZ102-290400-
Anchorage-
Including the cities of Anchorage, Eagle River, Indian,
and Eklutna
257 PM AKST Sat Dec 28 2024

...PATCHES OF DENSE FOG LINGERING THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE
ANCHORAGE BOWL AND EAGLE RIVER...

Areas of dense fog will linger across portions of the Anchorage
Bowl north to near the Knik River Bridge. The fog is thickest
from Ted Stevens Airport north to the Knik River Bridge and
generally west of the Glenn Highway along the Knik Arm. Any areas
of locally dense fog are expected to persist through this evening
and possibly into the overnight hours.

Expect poor driving conditions in areas of low visibility. If
driving, be prepared for rapidly changing visibility and slick
spots developing on roadways. Slow down, use your headlights, and
leave plenty of distance ahead of you.