Storm Warning 175, NWS Anchorage, AK

967 
FZAK51 PAFC 202239
CWFAER

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

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.

PKZ197-211200-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST+KODIAK ISLAND WATERS+
COOK INLET...

A broad trough persists over the eastern Gulf into Mon morning. A
strong wave of low pressure digs across the western Gulf this 
afternoon through Sun morning with continued northerly winds.

$$

PKZ710-211200-
Cape Suckling to Gravel Point out to 15 NM-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 45 kt. Gusts to 60 kt out of the Copper River
Delta. Seas 7 ft. Areas of blowing dust. Freezing spray.
.SUN...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 7 ft. Gusts to 55 kt out of the Copper
River Delta. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...N wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ711-211200-
Gravel Point to Cape Cleare out to 15 NM-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...N wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...N wind 25 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.THU...N wind 30 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ712-211200-
Cape Suckling to Cape Cleare from 15 to 75 NM-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Snow showers. 
Areas of blowing dust. Freezing spray.
.SUN...NE wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon.
Seas 7 ft. Snow showers. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft. Snow showers.
Freezing spray.
.MON...N wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind 30 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ715-211200-
Cape Cleare to Gore Point out to 15 NM-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.MON...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind 30 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ716-211200-
Cape Cleare to Gore Point from 15 to 75 NM-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...N wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ714-211200-
Resurrection Bay-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 25 kt. Gusts to 40 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...N wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind 40 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ724-211200-
Northwest Prince William Sound-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 25 kt increasing to 35 kt after midnight.
Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 30 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt after midnight.
Seas 2 ft.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ725-211200-
Central and Eastern Prince William Sound-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft subsiding to 4 ft after
midnight. Freezing spray.
.MON...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...N wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ726-211200-
Southwest Prince William Sound-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...N wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ720-211200-
Port of Valdez-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 40 kt. Gusts to 55 kt near Valdez.
Seas 5 ft. Heavy freezing spray.
.SUN...NE wind 35 kt. Gusts to 45 kt near Valdez in the morning. 
Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt after midnight.
Seas 2 ft.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ721-211200-
Valdez Narrows-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 50 kt. Gusts to 60 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 40 kt. Gusts to 50 kt in the morning. Seas 4 ft. 
Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ722-211200-
Valdez Arm-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 40 kt. Gusts to 50 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...NE wind 35 kt. Gusts to 45 kt in the morning. Seas 7 ft. 
Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ723-211200-
Passage Canal-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W wind 25 kt. Gusts to 40 kt near Whittier. Seas 4 ft. 
Freezing spray.
.SUN...W wind 20 kt. Gusts to 30 kt near Whittier. Seas 3 ft. 
Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...W wind 20 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...W wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ730-211200-
West of Barren Islands Including Kamishak Bay-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 11 ft.

$$

PKZ731-211200-
Barren Islands East-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 40 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 40 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ733-211200-
Gore Point to Marmot Island from 15 to 80 NM-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.MON...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ732-211200-
Marmot Island to Sitkinak out to 15 NM-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...N wind 20 kt increasing to 30 kt after midnight.
N of Dangerous Cape, N wind 40 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 40 kt diminishing to 30 kt in the afternoon.
Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt except N 30 kt N of Dangerous Cape.
Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ734-211200-
Marmot Island To Sitkinak from 15 to 85 NM-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...N wind 40 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN...N wind 40 kt diminishing to 30 kt in the afternoon.
Seas 12 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...NW wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ736-211200-
Chiniak Bay-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt increasing to 40 kt after midnight.
Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 40 kt diminishing to 30 kt in the afternoon.
Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ737-211200-
Marmot Bay-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 35 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE THROUGH THU...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ738-211200-
Shelikof Strait-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft subsiding to 5 ft in the afternoon.
Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...W wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON NIGHT...W wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...W wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.THU...NW wind 40 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ742-211200-
Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 40 kt. Seas 11 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN...NE wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon.
Seas 9 ft subsiding to 5 ft in the afternoon. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...N wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TUE...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ740-211200-
Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas in ice free waters 10 ft.
Heavy freezing spray.
.SUN...N wind 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 9 ft subsiding
to 6 ft in the afternoon. Heavy freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt after midnight.
Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.MON...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters
2 ft.
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.TUE THROUGH WED...NE wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.THU...NE wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 5 ft.

$$

PKZ741-211200-
Kachemak Bay-
139 PM AKST Sat Dec 20 2025

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 25 kt except N 30 kt in the outer bay.
Seas 5 ft except 8 ft in the outer bay. Freezing spray.
.SUN...NE wind 20 kt except NE 30 kt in the outer bay.
Seas 4 ft except 8 ft in the outer bay. Freezing spray.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt except N 20 kt in the outer
bay. Seas 2 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON AND MON NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED THROUGH THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
343 PM AKST Fri Dec 19 2025

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA
(Days 1 through 3: This afternoon through Monday evening)...

The forecast remains on track with the main update being to
upgrade the High Wind Watches to High Wind Warnings for the
Matanuska Valley and Valdez/Thompson Pass for this weekend.
Therefore, little change to the discussion below.

Key Message:
Winds will increase again this weekend, especially through the
Matanuska Valley, Thompson Pass, and Valdez. Gusty conditions
could also make it into North/West Anchorage.

We are now in the third week of this same cold, dry and windy
pattern which is increasing winds every few days as short waves
drive stronger winds aloft toward the surface. This means that for
the third weekend in a row there will be strong winds in the
Matanuska Valley and Valdez/Thompson Pass where High Wind Watches
have been upgraded to High Wind Warnings for parts of this coming
weekend. The good news for the Matanuska Valley, is that winds do
not appear likely to reach the same magnitude as either of the
past two weekends. At this time, it looks likely that maximum wind
gusts will reach speeds of 60 to 70 mph as opposed to the 90 mph+
that occurred the past two weekends. In addition, the duration
should be shorter with the warning level winds expected from
Saturday evening to Sunday around lunchtime/Noon. Even so, 60 to
70 mph winds are quite strong, so prepare for winds of this
magnitude for this third weekend in a row.

Valdez to Thompson Pass is the other location that is under a High
Wind Warning for this weekend. While the gusty winds have
diminished there somewhat today, this is the reprieve in the high
winds before they increase again Saturday into Sunday.

Another area of interest will be the Copper River Basin for the
potential for a significant drop in temperatures or wind chills
for the early part of next week. For the next two days the ambient
temperature will drop into the 20 to 30 below zero range when the
wind is not blowing and then increase instantly when some wind
mixes out the inversion some. However, the resulting wind chills
will be close to what the ambient temperature was. By Sunday
night, the winds should have diminished as even colder air moves
into the region which may drop temperatures to 40 below which
could even approach 50 below in the colder areas of the Basin for
Monday and Tuesday.

&&

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

An area of high pressure has remained over the southern Bering Sea
for several days, blocking North Pacific systems approaching the
Alaska Mainland from South of the Aleutians. The prevailing wind
field and low track lift northward along the Kamchatka Peninsula
before crossing eastern Russia before crossing the northern
Bering Sea. The next such system will turn north into Chukchi Sea
Saturday afternoon, with a long trailing front that will reach
Alaska's west coast by Sunday morning. Light snow rates and
totals of less than 2 inches are expected to spread across Nunivak
Island and the western Kuskokwim Delta by Sunday afternoon.
Little to no accumulation is expected east of Kongiganak before
the front shears apart. A cooling trend through Sunday afternoon
is expected.

A second system quickly tracks across the Bering Strait Sunday
night and pushes a gale-force front into western Alaska Monday
morning, with snow reaching as far south as the Alaska Peninsula,
tapering off before reaching Dillingham and Pilot Point. Snow
accumulation of an additional 2 to 3 inches expected along coastal
areas through Tuesday morning. Inland areas along the Kuskokwim
River from Bethel to Kalskag are anticipated to receive up to 1
inch of new snow. Blowing snow could reduce visibilities.

Along the AKPen, gusty northwest gap winds of varying intensity
perpetuate through Monday with likely blowing snow and reduced
visibility. Greater snow totals will be possible across high
terrain.

-ER

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

Strong high pressure continues to be situated over the North
Pacific and extend north into the Bering Sea. Influences from weak
low pressure systems may work to keep the Gulf of Alaska
relatively unsettled. There is some potential for high winds
through typical areas, including the Matanuska Valley and the
Valdez area/Thompson Pass into early next workweek with several
waves dropping south across the area. Temperatures remain below
average across Southcentral Alaska, with the coldest area being
the Copper River Basin, where ambient temperatures will hover in
the range of 20 to 40 below zero. Southwest Alaska, however, will
see warmer, somewhat moist air ride up and over the ridge,
bringing increased potential for precipitation. A series of low
pressure systems track up the coast of Far Eastern Russia toward
Western Alaska through mid-week. Precipitation is likely to be
mostly snow, though liquid precipitation is possible along the
coast and is increasingly likely southward along the Alaska
Peninsula. Southcentral Alaska looks to remain mostly dry and
downsloped in northwesterly flow, though chances for some light
snow to make it past the Alaska Range increase for Tuesday night
and Wednesday as low pressure potentially tracks into the Gulf
from Southwest Alaska. By Friday afternoon, troughing continues to
push northward in the Bering and may begin to slowly break the
hold of the strong ridge in place inland.

&&
.AVIATION...

PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist through
Saturday afternoon. Northerly winds will increase Saturday evening
remaining gusty into Sunday.

&&