Small Craft Advisory 178, NWS Anchorage, AK

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
200 PM AST THU FEB 23 2006

.DISCUSSION...
UPPER LEVELS...LOW CROSSING THROUGH SOUTHWEST ALASKA INTO THE GULF
THIS EVENING WITH RIDGE BUILDING OVER THE BERING SEA. THE LOW
CONTINUES TO DROP SOUTH THROUGH THE WEEKEND TO 40N SUNDAY. RIDGE GETS
KNOCKED DOWN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AS A LOW WORKS THROUGH EASTERN
RUSSIA. A STRONG SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVES OUT OF EAST ASIA AND DIGS
TROUGH OVER THE ALEUTIAN CHAIN SUNDAY. THIS WAVE CARRIES INTO THE
GULF MONDAY AND PULLS LOW IN THE CHUKCHI SEA OVER THE BROOKS RANGE
MONDAY.

WEST OF THE ALASKA RANGE SURFACE...UPPER LEVEL LOW WITH LOW CLOUDS
ALONG THE MOUNTAINS STILL PRODUCING SNOW IN SOUTHWEST ALASKA. WINDS
MODERATE FROM THE ALASKA PENINSULA EAST WITH THE LOW MOVING INTO COOK
INLET. STRONG JET WITH THE LOW WEST OF THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA
PUSHING A FRONT ACROSS THE NORTHERN BERING SEA TO THE WEST COAST
TONIGHT. FRONT WEAKENS AS IT MOVES TO THE WEST COAST AS THE FLOW IS
MORE ALONG THE FRONT THAN NORMAL TO IT. STRONGER FRONT TO ARRIVE
ALONG THE COAST FRIDAY NIGHT AS THE LOW MOVES INTO THE CHUKCHI
PENINSULA. STRONG FRONT ACCOMPANYING THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BRING GALE
FORCE WINDS AND GOOD AMOUNTS OF PRECIPITATION. HIGH PRESSURE TO
REMAIN OVER MUCH OF THE CHAIN DURING THIS TIME. THE FRONT TO QUICKLY
MOVE THROUGH WESTERN ALASKA SATURDAY. THE LOW TO MOVE INTO THE
KOTZEBUE SOUND SATURDAY NIGHT. A SHORT WAVE TROUGH TO MOVE OUT OF
EASTERN ASIA SATURDAY AND FORM INTO A LOW OVER THE CENTRAL BERING
SEA. AS THIS WAVE DEVELOPS...NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS AND MODERATE
AMOUNTS OF PRECIPITATION WILL FOLLOW. THIS LOW TO DEEPEN OVER THE
EASTERN BERING SUNDAY AND DROP INTO THE WESTERN GULF MONDAY WITH GALE
FORCE WINDS AND MODERATE AMOUNTS OF PRECIPITATION CONTINUING. IN THE
MEANTIME...ANOTHER FRONT WORKS INTO THE WESTERN ALEUTIAN CHAIN MONDAY
EVENING WITH THE LOW CENTERED OVER THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA. ONCE
AGAIN GALE TO STORM FORCE WINDS WITH THIS SYSTEM AS A STRONG JET
SUPPORT IS PRESENT.

SOUTH CENTRAL SURFACE...WEAK LOW OVER COOK INLET THIS AFTERNOON TO
DROP INTO THE GULF TONIGHT AND WELL SOUTH OF THE AREA BY TOMORROW
MORNING. HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE AREA TOMORROW. MAY SEE SOME AREAS OF
FOG TONIGHT IF ENOUGH CLOUDS CLEAR ALONG THE INLET. A STRONG FRONT TO
HIT THE WEST COAST TOMORROW EVENING AND CROSS INTO SOUTH CENTRAL
SATURDAY. GOOD AMOUNTS OF PRECIPITATION...SOME OF WHICH MAY BE
ADVISORY AMOUNTS. MODERATE WINDS WILL ALSO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH
NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST GAPS. THE FRONT LEAVES THE AREA SATURDAY NIGHT
WITH A LOW DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHERN GULF SUNDAY MORNING. WITH THE
UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER NORTHERN ALASKA...WILL SEE CONTINUE UNSETTLED
WEATHER THROUGH SUNDAY OVER SOUTH CENTRAL. A LOW IN THE EASTERN
BERING SEA SUNDAY TO MOVE INTO THE GULF MONDAY BRINGING AN INCREASE
IN PRECIPITATION ONCE AGAIN BUT MAINLY ALONG THE COASTAL LOCATIONS.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...BLIZZARD WATCH FRIDAY NIGHT 155
MARINE...GALE 130 132 175 176 185
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 130 180 185
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

JN FEB 06