Small Craft Advisory 256, NWS Anchorage, AK

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
500 PM AST SAT MAR 18 2006

.DISCUSSION...

STORM IN NORTHERN GULF OF ALASKA ON TRACK WITH HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SNOW SHIELD SPREAD AS
FAR NORTH AS TURNAGAIN ARM. SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH SLOWLY NORTH
TOWARDS EASTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AND WEAKEN OVER THE NEXT 24
HOURS. STRONG WINDS IN THE TURNAGAIN WILL SLOWLY DECREASE ALSO AS THE
PRESSURE GRADIENTS WEAKENS. SNOW AMOUNTS WILL LIKELY EXCEED 2 FEET
OVER TURNAGAIN ARM AND THE EASTERN END OF THE PORTAGE VALLEY WITH
OVER 1 FEET ELSEWHERE IN ZONE 125 IN THE COMING 24 HOURS. APPEARS
THAT SNOW WILL CROSS THE CHUGACH INTO THE ANCHORAGE BOWL LATE SUNDAY
AS THE REMNANTS OF THE SYSTEM PULLS WESTWARD.

WESTERN BERING SEA LOW EXPECTED TO MOVE RAPIDLY EAST AND MAKE
LANDFALL SUNDAY MORNING. GALE FORCE WINDS COVER ALMOST ALL OF THE
BERING SEA. GALES WILL CONTINUE IN THE COLD ADVECTION AFTER THE
PASSAGE OF THE LOW SLOWLY DIMINISHING FROM THE WEST ON MONDAY.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...HURRICANE FORCE 120. STORM 130. GALE 121 125 129 132 140 150
155 160 165 170 171 172 175 176 179. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 121 130 140
 185.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

CAS MAR 06