Small Craft Advisory 261, NWS Anchorage, AK

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
500 PM AST SUN MAR 19 2006

.DISCUSSION...

DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE CENTRAL BERING SEA CONTINUES TRACK
EAST TOWARD THE KUSKOKWIM DELTA ABOUT AS FORECAST OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL RUNS. GALE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST SLOWLY
DIMINISHING FROM THE WEST ON MONDAY AS THE RIDGE MOVES INTO THE
WESTERN ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. SNOW AND SOME BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE
ACROSS WEST PORTIONS THROUGH MONDAY AND RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW IN
THE ALEUTIANS IN THE COLD ADVECTION.

BERING LOW EXPECTED TO MERGE WITH THE LOW MOVING OUT OF THE GULF OF
ALASKA TONIGHT AND MONDAY AS THE TWO CENTERS FUJIWARA. THE BERING LOW
SHOULD BE THE DOMINANT SYSTEM AS IT DRIVES SOUTHEAST INTO THE CENTRAL
GULF ON MONDAY AFTERNOON ESTABLISHING AN OMEGA BLOCK IN THE NORTH
PACIFIC. THIS SHOULD BE A STABLE PATTERN.

SNOW CONTINUES ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL INTO THE COPPER RIVER AS THE LOW
MOVES TOWARDS PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND. IT APPEARS THAT THE CENTER OF
ACTION WILL DRIFT WESTWARD TONIGHT AND MONDAY AS THE LOW TAKES A MORE
NORTHWESTERLY TRACK.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...GALE 150 155 160 165 170 171 172 176 179.
         STORM 120.
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING 160 185.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

CAS MAR 06