Storm Warning 55, NWS Anchorage, AK

Issued

Feb 28, 2024, 3:44 AM AKST (12:44 UTC)

Expired

Feb 28, 2024, 4:15 PM AKST

In force

13 hr

Issued by

NWS Anchorage, AK

160 
FZAK52 PAFC 281244
CWFALU

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

Coastal Waters Forecast for Southwest Alaska+Bristol Bay+The
Alaska Peninsula Waters and the Aleutian Islands up to 100 nm out.

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.

PKZ199-290115-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS...

A front moves from the western Bering and Aleutians to the 
central and eastern Aleutians and central Bering by Fri morning. 
High pressure moves to the eastern Bering Thu morning through Fri 
morning. A 982 mb low center passes 150 nm west of Attu Island on 
Thu morning. Another 982 mb low center tracks to 155 nm southwest
of Attu Island by Fri morning.

$$

PKZ750-290115-
Sitkinak to Castle Cape out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...STORM WARNING TODAY...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 50 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 45 kt. Seas 9 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.THU...NW wind 45 kt. Seas 10 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.FRI...N wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ751-290115-
Sitkinak to Castle Cape from 15 to 100 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 50 kt. Seas 20 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 45 kt. Seas 15 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU...NW wind 45 kt. Seas 16 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.FRI...N wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ752-290115-
Castle Cape to Cape Tolstoi out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ753-290115-
Castle Cape to Cape Tolstoi from 15 to 100 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW wind 40 kt diminishing to 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas
16 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.FRI...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN...S wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ754-290115-
Cape Tolstoi to Cape Sarichef out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU...N wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.FRI...E wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN...S wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ755-290115-
Cape Tolstoi to Cape Sarichef from 15 to 100 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Snow showers.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...E wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ756-290115-
Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.THU...N wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ757-290115-
Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon from 15 to 60 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.THU...N wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ758-290115-
Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN...S wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ759-290115-
Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef from 15 to 70 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...E wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN...S wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ770-290115-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Bering Side out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Snow.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt becoming N 20 kt after midnight. Seas
13 ft.
.THU...NE wind 20 kt becoming E 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 8 ft.
Snow and rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...W wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ772-290115-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Snow.
.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt becoming NE 15 kt after midnight. Seas
14 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU...E wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Snow and rain.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.

$$

PKZ771-290115-
Unalaska Bay-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...W wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft subsiding to 5 ft in the
afternoon. Snow.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt becoming N 15 kt after midnight. Seas 11
ft subsiding to 5 ft after midnight.
.THU...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft. Snow.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SAT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ773-290115-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Pacific Side out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Snow showers.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt becoming N 20 kt after midnight. Seas 7
ft.
.THU...E wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft. Snow and rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ774-290115-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Pacific Side from 15 to 85 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt becoming E 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 6 ft.
Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SAT...W wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ775-290115-
Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Snow.
.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt becoming SE after midnight. Seas 6 ft.
.THU...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 40 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.FRI...S wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT...W wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ776-290115-
Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. Snow.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt becoming E 25 kt after midnight. Seas 7
ft. Snow.
.THU...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft. Rain and snow.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.FRI...S wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.

$$

PKZ777-290115-
Nikolski to Seguam Pacfic Side out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TODAY AND THURSDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Snow.
.TONIGHT...W wind 15 kt becoming SE after midnight. Seas 6 ft.
.THU...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.FRI...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SAT...W wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 14 ft.

$$

PKZ778-290115-
Nikolski to Seguam Pacific Side from 15 to 75 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TODAY AND THURSDAY...

.TODAY...W wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain showers.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.FRI...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SAT...W wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 16 ft.

$$

PKZ780-290115-
Seguam to Adak Bering Side out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...

.TODAY...S wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Rain.
.THU...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Rain showers.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.FRI...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ781-290115-
Seguam to Adak Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...

.TODAY...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Snow with rain.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain with snow.
.THU...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.FRI...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 35 kt. Seas 14 ft.

$$

PKZ782-290115-
Seguam to Adak Pacific Side out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...

.TODAY...S wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Rain.
.THU...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. Rain showers.
.THU NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.FRI...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SAT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 16 ft.

$$

PKZ783-290115-
Seguam to Adak Pacific Side from 15 to 75 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...S wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. Rain.
.THU...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Rain showers.
.THU NIGHT...S wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.FRI...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SAT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 17 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 35 kt. Seas 18 ft.

$$

PKZ784-290115-
Adak to Kiska Bering Side-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain and snow.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 40 kt. Seas 13 ft. Rain.
.THU...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft. Rain showers.
.THU NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.FRI...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 16 ft.

$$

PKZ785-290115-
Adak to Kiska Pacific Side-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 13 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 14 ft. Rain showers.
.THU...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 15 ft. Rain showers.
.THU NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.FRI...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 21 ft.

$$

PKZ786-290115-
Kiska to Attu Bering Side-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E wind 45 kt. Seas 17 ft. Rain and snow.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 40 kt diminishing to 30 kt after midnight. Seas
18 ft. Rain.
.THU...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 14 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.FRI...S wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 16 ft.

$$

PKZ787-290115-
Kiska to Attu Pacific Side-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE wind 40 kt. Seas 21 ft. Rain.
.TONIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 18 ft. Rain.
.THU...S wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas
16 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.FRI...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SAT...S wind 30 kt. Seas 18 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 35 kt. Seas 22 ft.

$$

PKZ766-290115-
Pribilof Islands Nearshore Waters-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 15 kt early increasing to 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
Freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...N wind 20 kt in the evening becoming E 10 kt. Seas9 ft. 
Freezing spray.
.THU...E wind 15 kt increasing to 25 kt in the afternoon. Seas 5
ft. Freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 35 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.FRI...E wind 40 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SAT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SUN...S wind 20 kt. Seas 13 ft.

$$

PKZ760-290115-
Bristol Bay greater than 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Extreme freezing spray at a 
rate of 4 cm per hour or greater may rapidly accumulate on vessels.
.THU...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Extreme freezing spray at a rate of
4 cm per hour or greater may rapidly accumulate on vessels.
.THU NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ761-290115-
Bristol Bay from Port Heiden to Cape Chichagof out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Extreme freezing spray at a 
rate of 4 cm per hour or greater may rapidly accumulate on vessels.
.THU...N wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Extreme freezing spray at a rate of 
4 cm per hour or greater may rapidly accumulate on vessels.
.THU NIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ762-290115-
Bristol Bay from Cape Chichagof to Cape Pierce out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW wind 25 kt.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 25 kt.
.THU...NW wind 20 kt.
.THU NIGHT...N wind 20 kt.
.FRI THROUGH SUN...E wind 25 kt.

$$

PKZ763-290115-
Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NW wind 20 kt.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 25 kt.
.THU...NW wind 20 kt.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt.
.FRI...NE wind 20 kt.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...SE wind 25 kt.

$$

PKZ764-290115-
Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 NM-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TODAY...NW wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 7 ft. Heavy freezing
spray near ice edge.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 7 ft. Extreme 
freezing spray at a rate of 4 cm per hour or greater may rapidly 
accumulate on vessels near ice edge.
.THU...N wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 7 ft. Extreme freezing 
spray at a rate of 4 cm per hour or greater may rapidly accumulate on
vessels near ice edge.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 5 ft.
.FRI THROUGH SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 10 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 7 ft.

$$

PKZ765-290115-
North and West of Nunivak Island-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

.TODAY...NW wind 20 kt.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 20 kt.
.THU...Variable wind 10 kt.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 20 kt.
.FRI...E wind 30 kt.
.SAT...E wind 25 kt.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt.

$$

PKZ767-290115-
Saint Matthew Island Waters-
344 AM AKST Wed Feb 28 2024

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...N wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 7 ft. Extreme 
freezing spray at a rate of 4 cm per hour or greater may rapidly 
accumulate on vessels near ice edge.
.TONIGHT...E of Saint Matthew Island, NW wind 15 kt. W of Saint
Matthew Island, N wind 15 kt becoming E 25 kt after midnight. Seas 
in ice free waters 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.THU...E of Saint Matthew Island, E wind 15 kt. W of Saint Matthew
Island, E wind 30 kt increasing to 45 kt in the afternoon. Seas in 
ice free waters 5 ft building to 9 ft in the afternoon. Snow. 
Freezing spray.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 45 kt. Seas in ice free waters 19 ft.
.FRI...E wind 40 kt. Seas in ice free waters 23 ft.
.SAT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas in ice free waters 18 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 9 ft.

$$

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this storm warning went out at Feb 27, 5:04 PM AKST, 10 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
504 PM AKST Tue Feb 27 2024

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

A storm-force low continues to drift southeast across the Gulf of
Alaska this afternoon. Gusty winds across Cook Inlet are expected
to increase through tonight as colder air advects from the north
and a strong surface high pressure develops over the interior. For
coastal locations, gusty gap winds persist and will continue to
increase in intensity Wednesday into Thursday. Winds are likely to
gust in excess of 50 mph for Seward and Valdez beginning
Wednesday, with Thompson Pass, Whittier and Kodiak City
potentially seeing winds gusting over 60 mph. For areas farther
inland, including Anchorage and portions of the Mat-Su Valleys,
winds could gust in excess of 30 mph beginning late Wednesday.

The biggest challenge in the short term will be where
temperatures bottom out by Thursday morning. For locations removed
from the gusty winds, temperatures will easily fall between -10F
and -20F, and likely close to -30F, in the Copper River Basin. For
areas experiencing gusty winds, mixing near the surface may
inhibit deep inversions, and very cold temperatures, from
developing. Still, temperatures in the 20s along the coast will
slowly drop toward the single digits by Thursday with windier
interior locations seeing temperatures in the teens falling to
between 0 and -10F.

For many locations across interior Southcentral, winds chills
could fall between -20 and -35F, with the coldest values in the
Northern Copper Basin and across the Susitna Valley. Through
Thompson Pass, Broad Pass and Isabel Pass, wind chill values
through could fall to -40F by Thursday morning.

This cold airmass looks to remain in place through Friday. By the
weekend, models diverge on whether this unseasonably cold air
persists or begins to retreat as a frontal system approaches from
the west.

&&

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

The weather pattern is in a slight lull as most of the active
weather producers have moved out of the area. This has left
Southwest Alaska to clear and dry out with a definitive shift
toward cold, dry northerly air. These colder temperatures in
conjunction with the departing low pressure system to the
southeast of the Alaska Peninsula will create gusty winds across
the Alaska Peninsula tonight. Storm force winds in the marine
areas on the southern side of the Peninsula will kick up this
evening, returning to gale-force through the day Wednesday.
Further north for mainland Southwest Alaska, temperatures will
continue to grow increasingly colder the next few days. Persistent
and gusty northerly winds will create ideal conditions for low
wind chills, with the Lower Kuskokwim Valley to see the worst of
conditions. Wind chill values in this area will be lowest in the
very early morning hours of Wednesday, Friday, and particularly
Thursday when wind chills may reach as low as -50 degrees F. Skies
will be mostly clear over Southwest Alaska for the remainder of
the workweek, allowing for the temperatures to recover slightly
during the day due to solar heating, but will similarly heighten
the cooling overnight. As such, a Special Weather Statement has
been issued for Southwest with regards to the cold temperatures,
please see that for more information.

By later tonight into Wednesday, a small polar low is expected to
form near or just south of the ice edge out to the west of Saint
Matthew, then track southeast towards the Pribilofs during the
day on Wednesday. Depending on the exact track of this feature, a
brief period of winds gusting as high as 40 to 50 mph along with
snow and blowing snow will be possible for the Pribilof Islands as
the polar low brushes past just off to the north. The low will
then dives into the southern AKPen by Wednesday evening as it
begins to lose integrity, with an uptick in areas of snow again
possible along the southern AKPen and out to Dutch Harbor late in
the day Wednesday.

Further west, a north Pacific low pressure system will swing a
pronounced warm front into the westernmost Aleutians beginning
Wednesday morning. Along the initial frontal push, widespread snow
and gusty winds out of the southeast will begin in Shemya and Attu
by Wednesday morning. Behind the front, very warm air well above
freezing will move in which will allow snow to quickly change over
to rain between Adak and Shemya on Wednesday afternoon as the
boundary lifts north into the southwestern Bering. The front will
continue to slowly shift northeast on Thursday, bringing returning
chance for precipitation to the Pribilofs and eastern Aleutians.
There are some early indications that warm air aloft may begin to
overrun the frigid air mass slowly retreating east at the surface,
and this could allow a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to
develop along a transition zone ahead of the front. The eastern
Aleutians and Pribilofs will have the best chance to see this
wintry mix materialize as the front approaches from the west late
on Thursday.

-CL/AS

&&

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7) Saturday through Tuesday...

Model tracks and strengths become more uncertain through the
forecast period. The weather pattern across the region is
dominated by moderately high amplitude troughs and ridges
traveling from West to East. A strong upper level trough over the
Central and Eastern Interior exits into the Canadian Provinces for
Sunday. On its heels is a upper level ridge that moves into the
Mainland by Tuesday. This draws a considerable amount of subzero
Arctic air all the way down to Southcentral and Southwest Alaska
through the weekend. Gusty outflow winds are expected along the
Southcentral coast and through Bristol Bay on Saturday.

In the West, a fairly strong low enters the Western Bering on
Sunday and tracks across the Northern Bering through Tuesday.
Widespread gusty winds with areas of gale force gusts spread over
the Southern Bering and Aleutians, diminishing late Monday, before
a second developing low approaches the Western Aleutians for
Tuesday. This low will bring another round of widespread gusty
winds with areas of gale force gusts spread over the Southern
Bering and Aleutians late Monday into Tuesday. Both lows deliver
locally heavy precipitation through Tuesday.

Kutz

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...VFR conditions will persist. Northerly winds will be the
story from this evening through the next few days. The strongest
winds look to be Wednesday afternoon and evening when gusts could
reach up to 35 kt.

&&

Storm Warnings in Alaska, 2024Every storm 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.