Gale Warning 84, NWS Anchorage, AK

Issued

Jan 21, 2026, 2:56 PM AKST (23:56 UTC)

Expired

Jan 22, 2026, 3:45 AM AKST

In force

13 hr

Issued by

NWS Anchorage, AK

111 
FZAK52 PAFC 212356
CWFALU

Coastal Waters Forecast
National Weather Service Anchorage Alaska
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

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.

PKZ199-221245-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS...

A 976 mb low 310 nm NW of Attu continues toward Kamchatka Peninsula 
through Thu morning. A 982 mb N Pacific low reaches 130 nm by Fri 
afternoon at 970 mb. Its front reaches the western Aleutians Thu 
afternoon. Another weak front reaches the Alaska Peninsula Fri 
afternoon.

$$

PKZ750-221245-
Sitkinak to Castle Cape out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ751-221245-
Sitkinak to Castle Cape from 15 to 100 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ752-221245-
Castle Cape to Cape Tolstoi out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ753-221245-
Castle Cape to Cape Tolstoi from 15 to 100 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ754-221245-
Cape Tolstoi to Cape Sarichef out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU...N wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ755-221245-
Cape Tolstoi to Cape Sarichef from 15 to 100 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...E wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ756-221245-
Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.FRI...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SAT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.

$$

PKZ757-221245-
Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon from 15 to 60 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...E wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN THROUGH MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ758-221245-
Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.FRI...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ759-221245-
Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef from 15 to 70 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ770-221245-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Bering Side out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt becoming SE after midnight. Seas 4 ft.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.

$$

PKZ772-221245-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...S wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU...E wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ771-221245-
Unalaska Bay-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.THU...Variable wind less than 10 kt becoming N 10 kt in the
afternoon. Seas 2 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.

$$

PKZ773-221245-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Pacific Side out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU NIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...E wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.

$$

PKZ774-221245-
Cape Sarichef to Nikolski Pacific Side from 15 to 85 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...Variable wind 10 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.FRI...E wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SAT THROUGH MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ775-221245-
Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU...S wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SAT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ776-221245-
Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU...S wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ777-221245-
Nikolski to Seguam Pacfic Side out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.THU...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN...N wind 20 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.

$$

PKZ778-221245-
Nikolski to Seguam Pacific Side from 15 to 75 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.THU...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SUN...N wind 20 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ780-221245-
Seguam to Adak Bering Side out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.

$$

PKZ781-221245-
Seguam to Adak Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 10 ft.
.SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.SUN...N wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ782-221245-
Seguam to Adak Pacific Side out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.THU...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SAT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft.

$$

PKZ783-221245-
Seguam to Adak Pacific Side from 15 to 75 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft.
.THU...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SAT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 15 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ784-221245-
Adak to Kiska Bering Side-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 30 kt. Seas 13 ft. Rain.
.THU...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 13 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 40 kt. Seas 16 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SE wind 45 kt. Seas 17 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 40 kt. Seas 18 ft.
.SAT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...NE wind 35 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ785-221245-
Adak to Kiska Pacific Side-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas 18 ft. Rain.
.THU...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 18 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 40 kt. Seas 20 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SE wind 40 kt. Seas 20 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...S wind 35 kt. Seas 19 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NW wind 25 kt. Seas 17 ft.
.MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 12 ft.

$$

PKZ786-221245-
Kiska to Attu Bering Side-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 40 kt diminishing to 30 kt after midnight. Seas
23 ft.
.THU...E wind 25 kt. Seas 16 ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 30 kt becoming SE 40 kt after midnight. Seas
14 ft. Rain.
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...SE wind 45 kt. Seas 19 ft.
.SAT...S wind 30 kt. Seas 16 ft.
.SUN...NW wind 30 kt. Seas 14 ft.
.MON...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 15 ft.

$$

PKZ787-221245-
Kiska to Attu Pacific Side-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...S wind 40 kt diminishing to 25 kt after midnight. Seas
27 ft. Rain.
.THU...SE wind 20 kt becoming E 30 kt in the afternoon. Seas 18
ft. Rain.
.THU NIGHT...E wind 30 kt becoming SE 40 kt after midnight. Seas
17 ft. Rain.
.FRI...SE wind 45 kt. Seas 20 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...S wind 40 kt. Seas 21 ft.
.SAT...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 19 ft.
.SUN...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 18 ft.
.MON...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 16 ft.

$$

PKZ766-221245-
Pribilof Islands Nearshore Waters-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. Areas of fog.
.THU...S wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Areas of fog.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 10 ft.

$$

PKZ760-221245-
Bristol Bay greater than 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...Variable wind less than 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters
2 ft.
.THU...NE wind 10 kt increasing to 15 kt in the afternoon. Seas in
ice free waters 2 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft. Freezing
spray.
.FRI...NE wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 5 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 ft.

$$

PKZ761-221245-
Bristol Bay from Port Heiden to Cape Chichagof out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.THU...N wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft. Freezing spray.
.FRI...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 2 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft.

$$

PKZ762-221245-
Bristol Bay from Cape Chichagof to Cape Pierce out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...N wind 10 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.THU...N wind 10 kt increasing to 15 kt in the afternoon. Seas in
ice free waters 2 ft.
.THU NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.FRI...NE wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 2 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 1 foot.
.MON...NE wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 1 foot.

$$

PKZ763-221245-
Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 15 kt diminishing to 10 kt after midnight.
.FRI...E wind 15 kt.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 20 kt.
.SAT...NE wind 20 kt.
.SUN...NE wind 25 kt.
.MON...N wind 30 kt.

$$

PKZ764-221245-
Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 NM-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.THU...NE wind 15 kt. Seas in ice free waters 3 ft.
.THU NIGHT...NE wind 10 kt becoming E after midnight. Seas in ice
free waters 3 ft.
.FRI...E wind 20 kt. Seas in ice free waters 4 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 6 ft.
.SAT...E wind 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 7 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 5 ft.
.MON...NE wind 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 7 ft.

$$

PKZ765-221245-
North and West of Nunivak Island-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

.TONIGHT...SE wind 15 kt.
.THU...S wind 20 kt.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 15 kt.
.FRI...Variable wind 10 kt.
.FRI NIGHT...E wind 20 kt.
.SAT...NE wind 25 kt.
.SUN THROUGH MON...N wind 30 kt.

$$

PKZ767-221245-
Saint Matthew Island Waters-
256 PM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E of Saint Matthew Island, SE wind 25 kt. W of Saint
Matthew Island, SE wind 40 kt becoming S 30 kt after midnight.
Seas in ice free waters 17 ft. Rain.
.THU...S wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 15 ft.
.THU NIGHT...SE wind 25 kt. Seas in ice free waters 14 ft.
.FRI...SE wind 35 kt. Seas in ice free waters 14 ft.
.FRI NIGHT...SE wind 30 kt. Seas in ice free waters 15 ft.
.SAT THROUGH SUN...NE wind 35 kt. Seas in ice free waters 14 ft.
.MON...N wind 40 kt. Seas in ice free waters 12 ft.

$$

NWS Anchorage, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale warning went out at Jan 21, 5:49 AM AKST, 9 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
549 AM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

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

The forecast remains on track as the weather across Mainland
Southcentral is dominated by a warm upper-level ridge of high
pressure anchored over the eastern Gulf and extending northward
over the region. Weak shortwave are rounding the top of the ridge,
allowing for occasional cloud cover to spill across Southcentral
through the end of the week. Temperatures, especially those in
valley locations, will be highly dependent on the timing and
extent of cloud cover. Aloft, temperatures will remain quite warm,
leading to a stagnant inversion across the region through the
next couple of days.

This inversion, coupled with periodic clear skies and cooler
temperatures near the surface, will also allow for the formation
of patchy fog across parts of coastal Cook Inlet and the Copper
River Valley.

Influence from the ridge begins to wane by the start of the
weekend as a North Pacific low tracks north toward the Alaska
Peninsula and its attendant front northward across the western
Gulf.

-TM

&&

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

A high amplitude blocking ridge extends from the Pacific
Northwest up across the Gulf of Alaska and into mainland Alaska.
A corresponding high amplitude trough is situated to the west over
the Northwest Pacific, western Bering Sea, and Aleutian Islands.
Conditions are quite benign over Southwest AK under the influence
of the ridge, with mostly cloudy skies and isolated patchy fog.
Surface temperatures have begun to drop back into the 20s for
many locations across Southwest Alaska and even colder
temperatures in portions of the Kuskokwim River Valley. A weak
front extending across the Pribilof Islands and Eastern Aleutians,
the tail edge of the front trailing off a low in northern
Kamchatka, will push slowly east toward the Kuskokwim Delta coast
today, with fairly minimal impact. The front is not associated
with any meaningful amount of precipitation, but above freezing
temperatures aloft with surface temperatures along the Kuskokwim
Delta coast having fallen back below freezing may lead to a trace
of ice from freezing rain or drizzle if any light precipitation
can generate this morning. The main storm track is way out west,
with deep lows tracking from the Northwest Pacific, then northward
across the western Aleutians and Bering Sea. One such storm is
beginning to push the next front into the southwestern Bering Sea,
with a storm force front lifting across the western Aleutians
into the Bering.

There will be very little change in the larger scale pattern and
associated weather through the end of the work week. The upper
ridge will undergo some transformations, but largely hold over
mainland AK and keep quiet, dry conditions in place. The one
wild-card is a trough and low caught between ridges at around 40N
in the central Pacific. The low lifts toward the Alaska Peninsula
on Friday, bringing rain to the Pacific coast, with downsloping in
southeasterly flow keeping the Bering side and Bristol Bay mostly
dry.

The Aleutians will continue to see periods of rain and strong
winds as Pacific storms track into the western Bering Sea, with
the present storm lifting across the region through tonight. In
the colder air mass moving in behind the front over the western
Aleutians, some snow showers will be possible today in
combination with strong southerly gales. Precipitation wanes for a
period of time in the evening as the front remains west of the
Pribilof Islands before the warm front of the next low
reintensifies rainfall over the central Aleutians tonight. This
low will be the warmest of all the systems this week, meaning high
confidence for nearly all rain along the Aleutian Chain as the
low tracks toward Attu through Friday.

-SEB/CQ

&&

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

Confidence remains high for the amplified upper ridge to persist
across much of the state through the first half of the weekend,
continuing the recent pattern of dry and quiet weather. Similarly,
the persistent pattern of upper level troughing over Kamchatka
and the western Bering Sea also continues through the weekend and
likely through early next week. Several shortwaves and
accompanying surface lows will lift from the North Pacific and
into the western Bering, keeping unsettled and active weather
mainly confined to the Western and Central Aleutians to begin the
period. Each wave will move in succession through the Aleutians
and Bering Sea, bringing multiple rounds of potentially storm
force winds and precipitation through the weekend into early next
week.

The upper level ridge retreats to the northwest towards eastern
Siberia and the northern Bering by the end of the weekend. This
leads to a shift in the storm track and will allow for
disturbances to lift out of the North Pacific and into the Gulf,
bringing more active weather across the AKPen and coastal
Southcentral by late this weekend into early next week. Forecast
confidence begins to decrease early next week as the exact timing
and positioning of an upper level trough digging south across the
Interior into the lee of the departing ridge remains uncertain.
Despite the aforementioned uncertainties, both deterministic
models and ensemble means remain consistent in showing a signal
for a pattern shift for next week, trending temperatures colder
across all of Southern Alaska and bringing increased precipitation
chances to both inland and coastal Southcentral.

JH

&&

.AVIATION...

PANC...Light and variable winds will prevail through the TAF
period. With narrow dewpoint depressions near the surface as well
as the light winds, the setup remains conducive for low stratus
and fog formation. With ridging and a strong inversion overhead,
this will be the case over the next few days.

Dense fog has formed this morning in Turnagain Arm and has moved
over the terminal. Expect this fog to persist through the mid to
late morning hours before conditions begin to improve. The
pattern, as stated above, will be conducive for fog to return late
tonight into Thursday morning.

&&

In the hours before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
National Weather Service ANCHORAGE AK
1023 AM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

AKZ701>704-711-723-743-746-749-220400-
Anchorage-Anchorage Hillside / Eagle River-East Turnagain Arm-
Portage-Lower Matanuska Valley-NW Kenai Peninsula-
Central Copper Valley-Southern Susitna Valley-
Southern Copper Valley-
Including the cities of Anchorage, Eagle River, Eklutna,
Anchorage Hillside, Upper Eagle River, Indian, Girdwood, Portage,
Palmer, Wasilla, Big Lake, Kenai, Soldotna, Sterling, Nikiski,
Glennallen, Gakona, Copper Center, Willow, Kenny Lake,
and Chitina
1023 AM AKST Wed Jan 21 2026

...AREAS OF FOG TO RETURN TONIGHT TO THE COOK INLET AND VALLEY
LOCATIONS...

Upper level high pressure and mostly clear skies may allow for
areas of fog to redevelop overnight for the Cook Inlet region and
other valley locations. Give yourself some extra time for your
morning commute, reduce your speed, and only use your low beam
headlights when traveling.

AM

Gale Warnings in Alaska, 2026Every gale warning in 2026

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