Small Craft Advisory 206, NWS Anchorage, AK

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION SOUTHWEST ALASKA
500 AM AST MON MAR 7 2005

.DISCUSSION...THE GENERAL UPPER LEVEL PATTERN ACROSS THE NORTHEAST
PACIFIC HAS BEEN FAIRLY PERSISTENT THE LAST FEW DAYS. A STRONG UPPER
LEVEL RIDGE CURRENTLY RESIDES ALONG THE NORTH AMERICAN WEST
COAST...AND A LONG WAVE TROUGH IS CENTERED OVER THE ALEUTIANS. THE
STORM TRACK STRETCHES ACROSS THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL PACIFIC FROM 35N
TO 45N...AND THEN MAKES A SHARP TURN NORTH INTO ALASKA. THIS IS
BRINGING MILD WEATHER TO MOST OF SOUTHERN ALASKA EXCEPT FOR COOL
WEATHER WEST OF ABOUT 175W ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE UPPER TROUGH.

THE NEXT STORM IN THE SERIES IS CURRENTLY CENTERED NEAR 48N 155W AND
MOVING NORTH. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING ANOTHER SLUG OF GALES AND STORMS
TO THE MARINE AREAS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...BEFORE IT MOVES INTO
BERING SEA AND BECOMES THE UPPER STEERING LOW.

THE PATTERN WILL BEGIN A SUBTLE CHANGE BY THE MIDDLE TO LATE PART OF
THE WEEK. STORM SYSTEMS WILL TURN NORTH FURTHER WEST AS THE WEST
COAST RIDGE BEGINS TO RETROGRADE OUT OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC. THE
NORTHERN EDGE OF THIS BLOCKING RIDGE WILL NUDGE INTO THE ALASKAN MAIN
LAND ON THE WEEKEND...AND THE MORE ACTIVE WEATHER WILL BE CONFINED TO
THE ALEUTIANS BY EARLY NEXT WEEK.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...GALE 2B1 2C 4 4A 5B 6A 6B 8 12A 14 15.
         STORM 2B 3A 3B 3C 5A.
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 14.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

BL MAR 05