Gale Warning 242, NWS Anchorage, AK

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
500 PM AST SAT MAR 4 2006

.DISCUSSION...

LONG WAVE PATTERN APPEARS TO BE SHIFTING DURING THE COMING WEEK.
CURRENT REX BLOCK ACROSS WESTERN ASIA EXPECTED TO BREAK DOWN QUICKLY
THIS WEEKEND WITH STRONG UPPER RIDGE DEVELOPING ACROSS NORTH AMERICA
DURING THE WEEK. THIS SHOULD LEAD TO A DEEP TROUGH DEVELOPING ACROSS
ALASKA BY THE NEXT WEEKEND.

IN THE SHORT TERM THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE CENTRAL BERING SEA
IS PROGRESSING EASTWARD. STRONG SURFACE WINDS DOMINATE THE WESTERN
PORTIONS AND ARE ALREADY MOVING ONSHORE IN THE KUSKOKWIM AND YUKON
DELTA. LOCAL BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MOST OF THE
DAY WITH THE SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

ANOTHER LOW WILL DEVELOP ON THE SOUTH END OF THIS SYSTEM IN THE
NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA SUNDAY. THE DEVELOPING SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO
SPREAD A SHIELD OF SNOW ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA EARLY SUNDAY INTO
MONDAY. LOCAL BLIZZARD CONDITIONS MAY BRIEFLY DEVELOP IN THE PORTAGE
AREA OF TURNAGAIN ARM EARLY SUNDAY.

FOG AND LOW CLOUD CONDITIONS THAT HAVE PLAGUED MUCH OF THE MAINLAND
AREAS DURING THE MORNING ARE IMPROVING RAPIDLY.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WATCH 125.
MARINE...GALES 155 160 165 170 172.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

CAS MAR 06