Gale Warning 45, NWS Anchorage, AK

083 
FZAK51 PAFC 100019
CWFAER

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

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.

PKZ197-101400-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE NORTH GULF COAST+KODIAK ISLAND WATERS+
COOK INLET...

A 963 mb low 160 nm S of Cape Cleare lifts across the Kenai
Peninsula Sat morning at 970 mb. A 972 mb low enters the Gulf 
325 nm S of Cordova Sat afternoon, then lifts inland near Cordova 
at 980 mb by Sun morning.

$$

PKZ710-101400-
Cape Suckling to Gravel Point out to 15 NM-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 35 kt. Seas 19 ft. Rain.
.SAT...SE wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas
19 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.MON...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.TUE...E wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.WED...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 15 ft.

$$

PKZ711-101400-
Gravel Point to Cape Cleare out to 15 NM-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 35 kt. Seas 19 ft. Rain.
.SAT...SE wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas
19 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SUN...S wind 15 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.MON...S wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.TUE...E wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.WED...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 14 ft.

$$

PKZ712-101400-
Cape Suckling to Cape Cleare from 15 to 75 NM-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 40 kt. Seas 21 ft. Rain.
.SAT...SE wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas
20 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.MON...S wind 15 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.TUE...E wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.WED...SW wind 35 kt. Seas 18 ft.

$$

PKZ715-101400-
Cape Cleare to Gore Point out to 15 NM-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 12 ft building to 17 ft after
midnight. Rain and snow.
.SAT...S wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas
19 ft. Rain and snow.
.SAT NIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.WED...W wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.

$$

PKZ716-101400-
Cape Cleare to Gore Point from 15 to 75 NM-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 35 kt becoming S 40 kt after midnight. Seas
21 ft. Rain.
.SAT...S wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas
19 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 17 ft.
.SUN...W wind 15 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.MON...W wind 15 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.WED...SW wind 35 kt. Seas 15 ft.

$$

PKZ714-101400-
Resurrection Bay-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 40 kt becoming N 35 kt after midnight. Seas 6 ft. 
Snow and rain.
.SAT...S wind 25 kt diminishing to 15 kt in the afternoon. Seas 5
ft subsiding to 3 ft in the afternoon. Snow and rain.
.SAT NIGHT...S wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt after midnight.
Seas 3 ft. Snow.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ724-101400-
Northwest Prince William Sound-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 20 kt becoming E 30 kt after midnight. Seas 6
ft building to 9 ft after midnight. Rain and snow.
.SAT...SE wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas
7 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. Rain and snow.
.SUN...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ725-101400-
Central and Eastern Prince William Sound-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Rain.
.SAT...SE wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas
6 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. Rain with snow.
.SUN...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ726-101400-
Southwest Prince William Sound-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt becoming SE after midnight. Seas 6 ft.
Rain and snow.
.SAT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft subsiding to 4 ft in the
afternoon. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...S wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN...SW wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...S wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ720-101400-
Port of Valdez-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

.TONIGHT...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Snow.
.SAT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Snow and rain.
.SAT NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Snow and
rain.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ721-101400-
Valdez Narrows-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt diminishing to 15 kt after midnight. Seas
4 ft. Snow and rain.
.SAT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Rain and snow.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. Snow and rain.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ722-101400-
Valdez Arm-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Rain and snow.
.SAT...N wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. Rain and snow.
.SUN...S wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ723-101400-
Passage Canal-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...W wind 10 kt becoming E 30 kt after midnight. Seas 2 ft
building to 5 ft after midnight. Rain.
.SAT...E wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 5
ft subsiding to 2 ft in the afternoon. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...E wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt after midnight.
Seas 2 ft. Rain with snow.
.SUN...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...E wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...W wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ730-101400-
West of Barren Islands Including Kamishak Bay-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW wind 35 kt. Seas in ice free waters 10 ft. Freezing
spray.
.SAT...W wind 35 kt. Seas in ice free waters 10 ft. Freezing
spray.
.SAT NIGHT...W wind 35 kt. Seas in ice free waters 11 ft. Freezing
spray.
.SUN...NW wind 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 6 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 7 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 6 ft.
.WED...W wind 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 8 ft.

$$

PKZ731-101400-
Barren Islands East-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SAT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.WED...W wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ733-101400-
Gore Point to Marmot Island from 15 to 80 NM-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt. Seas 16 ft. Snow and rain.
.SAT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 16 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.MON...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.TUE...N wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.WED...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 15 ft.

$$

PKZ732-101400-
Marmot Island to Sitkinak out to 15 NM-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SAT...NW wind 25 kt except NE 15 kt N of Dangerous Cape. Seas
11 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...N wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.WED...W wind 25 kt. Seas 16 ft.

$$

PKZ734-101400-
Marmot Island To Sitkinak from 15 to 85 NM-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt diminishing to 15 kt after midnight. N of
Dangerous Cape, N wind 35 kt. Seas 16 ft. Snow and rain.
.SAT...NW wind 20 kt except NE 15 kt N of Dangerous Cape. Seas
15 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.MON...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.TUE...N wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.WED...SW wind 30 kt. Seas 17 ft.

$$

PKZ736-101400-
Chiniak Bay-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW wind 30 kt diminishing to 20 kt after midnight. Seas
5 ft subsiding to 3 ft after midnight. Snow.
.SAT...Variable wind less than 10 kt becoming NE 15 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 3 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...N wind 15 kt becoming NW 10 kt after midnight. Seas
2 ft.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...N wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...W wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.

$$

PKZ737-101400-
Marmot Bay-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 30 kt becoming NW 20 kt after midnight. Seas 6
ft subsiding to 2 ft after midnight.
.SAT...Variable wind less than 10 kt becoming N 15 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 2 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt after midnight.
Seas 1 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 1 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.WED...W wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.

$$

PKZ738-101400-
Shelikof Strait-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 35 kt becoming W 25 kt after midnight. Seas 9 ft
subsiding to 6 ft after midnight. Freezing spray.
.SAT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft. Freezing spray.
.SAT NIGHT...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.MON THROUGH TUE...N wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.WED...W wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ742-101400-
Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 25 kt diminishing to 15 kt after midnight. Seas
in ice free waters 6 ft subsiding to 3 ft after midnight. Freezing 
spray.
.SAT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 5 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 5 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 ft.
.MON...N wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 ft.
.TUE...N wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 5 ft.
.WED...SW wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 5 ft.

$$

PKZ740-101400-
Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt in the evening becoming variable less
than 10 kt. Snow.
.SAT...SE wind 10 kt becoming S 20 kt in the afternoon.
.SAT NIGHT...S wind 20 kt becoming SW 10 kt after midnight.
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt.
.MON THROUGH TUE...NE wind 10 kt.
.WED...S wind 20 kt.

$$

PKZ741-101400-
Kachemak Bay-
319 PM AKST Fri Jan 9 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NE wind 15 kt in the evening becoming variable 10 kt.
In the outer bay, N wind 25 kt diminishing to 15 kt after midnight. 
Seas 3 ft. Freezing spray.
.SAT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SAT NIGHT...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.SUN NIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.MON...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.TUE...N wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.WED...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
454 PM AKST Thu Jan 8 2026

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

KEY MESSAGES:

1) A Gulf of Alaska low and an elongated surface trough will
bring snow, rain and wind to Southcentral today through Sunday.

2) Blizzard conditions on Kodiak Island are expected from late
this evening through 6pm Friday evening.

3) Many watches and warnings are in effect today through Sunday
across Southcentral Alaska.

Overshadowed by a Bering Sea low, a broad north Pacific trough
with multiple embedded shortwaves that will lift north into the
Gulf this evening and into the remainder of Southcentral over the
weekend. This will bring snow to the entire region. It is
important to note that as the low moves across the Interior, a
deformation zone will form from the Kenai Peninsula northward to
the Mat-Su Valley that would lead to localized increased snowfall
amounts. Forecasting this area of localized snowfall accumulation
is difficult given the mesoscale forces at play. However, current
thinking is that it will setup on Saturday after the accumulating
snow has already begun to fall. Many watches and warning across
Southcentral have been issued to coincide with the overall snow
this weekend.

Kodiak Island and the City of Kodiak will experience blizzard
conditions late this evening through late Friday evening as the
Gulf of Alaska low with its associate front moves toward Prince
William Sound. There has been a delay in the onset of these snowy
and windy conditions and a decrease in snow amounts for the City
of Kodiak from the last forecast package. The changes were the
overall slowness in arrival time of the precipitation and a longer
period of rain will mix into the snow overnight Friday.

By Friday afternoon, widespread snow is expected for the Prince
William Sound communities. Forecast confidence is highest for the
eastern Sound and southern Copper Basin receiving the bulk of the
precipitation from the warm front.

-DJ/CJ

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

...Key Messages and Active Advisories and Warnings...

* Bitterly cold air temperatures and wind chills continue across
  Southwest Alaska. Extreme Cold Warnings remains in effect for
  Southwest Alaska.

* A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the Kuskokwim
  Delta, Western Capes, Northern Bristol Bay coast, and inland
  Bristol Bay through Saturday morning.

* A Blizzard Warning remains in effect for Adak and Atka for this
  afternoon through Friday afternoon.

* A Special Weather Statement remains in effect for Nikolski,
  Unalaska, and Akutan for rain changing to snow showers tonight
  into Friday. Snow showers and gusty winds could lead to periods
  of reduced visibilities.

* Arctic air and gusty winds will bring potential for extreme
  freezing spray along the ice edge.

Discussion:

The overall synoptic setup has not significantly changed since
yesterday. A ~970 mb low spinning south of the Aleutians with a
warm front draped across the Central Aleutians is spreading
stratiform precipitation from Adak to Cold Bay in the form of rain
and snow, dependent on location relative to the front. Cold air
is surging southward across Adak and Atka, transitioning rain to
snow and as winds pick up, blizzard or near blizzard conditions
are expected, with 3 to 5 inches of snowfall possible. The warm
conveyor belt can be seen in action on IR satellite as clouds
stream poleward just ahead of the cold front attached to the
system in the North Pacific. With an arctic high to the north and
lower pressure to the south from the surface low, pressure
gradient induced winds are being generated across the Bering and
Aleutians, giving some locations blizzard conditions and others
blowing snow concerns. An upper level trough coincidentally is
digging southward along the Southwest Alaska coast, which has
helped to induce a corridor of gusty winds for portions of the
Southwest that is streaming southwestward out of the Kuskokwim
Delta coast and the Bristol Bay region and across the eastern
Bering. This setup for coastal Southwest Alaska and areas just
inland has prompted the issuance of a Winter Weather Advisory for
blowing snow from 40 mph wind gusts through Saturday morning. By
Saturday morning, winds should begin to decrease in intensity with
the upper level trough passage and the surface low south of the
Aleutians moving farther away from the region, which in turn will
weaken the surface pressure gradient between the low and the
arctic high to the north. By the weekend, cold temperatures and
northerly winds will remain over almost the entirety of Southwest
Alaska, Bering Sea, and Aleutian Chain.

-AM/KM

&&

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

The active weather pattern is expected to continue for the first
half of next week. The upper level low will still be over the
Interior and southwest Alaska on Sunday, keeping Southwest Alaska
entrenched in the cold with part of Southcentral still being in
lingering snow on the tail end of the weekend system. The upper
level trough will not move a lot through Monday, but what does
change on Tuesday is that the trough will edge westward as a
strong low moves into the Gulf of Alaska from the south. There is
a reasonable degree of uncertainty as to the exact strength and
track, but what looks likely is that this low will end up moving
into Prince William Sound or to the east of it. This will keep
Southcentral in the snow with only Cordova in a position to see
potential for a switch to rain from the snow. This system has the
potential to produce strong winds and heavy snowfall for coastal
regions including the coastal mountains Tuesday and Wednesday.

High surface pressure will remain centered over the Western Bering
Sea through the period. With the upper level trough remaining
over Southwest Alaska and the Bering Sea, this will keep Southwest
Alaska as well as the Bering Sea/Aleutians/AK Peninsula with cold
temperatures and stiff northerly winds. While most of the
precipitation will remain east of the Alaska/Aleutian Ranges, the
Alaska Peninsula and eastern Aleutians have the potential for
periods of heavy snow showers that develop off the ice edge and
stream into those areas.

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...Patchy areas of low stratus and fog have persisted across
parts of Anchorage this afternoon. Occasional periods of IFR
ceilings/visibility will remain possible at the terminal this
evening with transient fog or stratus, but increasing north winds
should steadily decrease this threat with time. Northerly winds
will pick up to 10 kts or a little greater by late tonight and
Friday morning. These elevated northerly winds could cause some
instances of drifting snow tonight and Friday morning. Predominant
ceilings will begin to lower some Friday afternoon ahead of
another potential snowfall event arriving later on Friday evening.

&&