Small Craft Advisory 987, NWS Anchorage, AK

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
100 PM AST FRI NOV 25 2005

.DISCUSSION...BIG WEATHER PICTURE TODAY HAS A COLD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH
OVER THE BARREN ISLANDS WILL MOVE SLOWLY SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE GULF OF
ALASKA. HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER THE CENTRAL BERING SEA WILL MOVE
SLOWLY EASTWARD BEHIND THE UPPER TROUGH.

WEST OF THIS RIDGE THERE IS A STRONG AND COMPLEX LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
THAT IS BRINGING STORM FORCE WINDS TO THE WESTERN ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.
AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON THE MAIN LOW IS NORTHWEST OF ATTU AND HEADING
TO NORTHERN KAMCHATKA BY SATURDAY MORNING. THE FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS LOW WILL MOVE TO ADAK SATURDAY AFTERNOON WHERE A SECONDARY 993
LOW WILL FROM AND MOVE UP TO FRONTAL BOUNDARY...ENDING UP WEST OF ST
MATHEW ISLAND AT 986 MB SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

MOST SEVERE WEATHER FEATURE TODAY IS A BLIZZARD THAT IS OCCURRING IN
THE HOMER AREA. A COUPLE OF LOCAL EFFECTS ARE COMBINING TO CAUSE
THIS. THE KAMISHAK GAP WIND JET THAT NORMALLY BLOWS THROUGH THE
BARREN ISLANDS IS FARTHER NORTH DUE TO A SMALL LOW THAT IS JUST SOUTH
OF SEWARD. INSTEAD OF BLOWING THROUGH THE BARRENS THE JET IS BEING
BEND NORTHWARD AND ENTERING KACHEMAK BAY DUE TO THIS LOW. THE RESULT
IS LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW A NUMEROUS REPORTS OF NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES
DUE TO HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...IN WINDS GUSTING NEAR 35 MPH.
THIS LOW IS SLOWLY DRIFTING SOUTH AND WILL BRING THE JET FARTHER
SOUTH WITH IT AS IT MOVES. CONDITIONS IN HOMER WILL RAPIDLY IMPROVE
AS THIS HAPPENS...PROBABLY LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WARNING 121.
MARINE...SEE CURRENT MARINE PACKAGE.

NOV 05