Small Craft Advisory 259, NWS Anchorage, AK

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
500 PM AST FRI MAR 25 2005

.DISCUSSION...

LARGE MULTICENTERED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM STRETCHES OVER WESTERN ALASKA
INTO THE CENTRAL BERING AND BRISTOL BAY. FRONTAL SYSTEM STRETCHES
FROM THE THE SOUTHWEST EDGE OF KODIAK ISLAND NORTH TO THE SEWARD
PENINSULA. FRONT NEARLY STATIONARY IN THE NORTH BUT HAS SOME WESTWARD
PROGRESSION ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF THE
CENTERS OF THE UPPER LOW. LOW ON THE SOUTH END EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO
THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF OVER THE WEEKEND BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF
SNOW FOR SOUTH CENTRAL.

BROAD WESTERLY FLOW ACROSS THE WESTERN PORTIONS LEADING TO EXTENSIVE
LOW CLOUDS AND FOG WITH AREAS OF LIGHT SNOW. ONLY SIGNIFICANT
VERTICAL MOTION AND SNOW ALONG THE FRONTAL ZONE. FLOW WILL SLOWLY
DECREASE ACROSS THE NORTH OVER THE NEXT 36 TO 48 HOURS AS THE UPPER
LOW SETTLES SOUTH OVER THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA.

STRONGEST WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH SOUTHERLY BRANCH OF THE POLAR JET
THAT WILL SKIRT THE ALEUTIAN CHAIN OVER THE NEXT 2 TO 3 DAYS.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...GALE 3A..3B..5A..12B..13A.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

CAS MAR 05