Small Craft Advisory 301, NWS Anchorage, AK

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
400 PM ADT THU MAR 29 2007

.DISCUSSION...LOTS OF SUNSHINE IN THE EASTERN FORECAST AREA AND A
STRONG LOW IN THE FAR WEST.

IN THE EAST...A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA
AND A SURFACE RIDGE OVER THE EASTERN INTERIOR ARE TEAMING UP TO BRING
SUNSHINE TO SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA. A LOW JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE GULF OF
ALASKA IS ASSISTING THE OFFSHORE WINDS ALONG THE GULF COAST PUSHING
CLEAR SKIES WELL INTO THE GULF OF ALASKA. NOT A LOT OF CHANGE IN THE
OVERALL PATTERN THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN THIS AREA. THE SURFACE RIDGE
DOES MOVE EASTWARD BY THIS WEEKEND BUT THE UPPER RIDGE STAYS NEARLY
STATIONARY AND WILL KEEP IT MOSTLY SUNNY IN SOUTH CENTRAL.

IN THE WEST...THE STRONG 962 MB LOW IN NEAR ATTU THIS AFTERNOON AND
BRINGING STRONG WINDS TO THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL ALEUTIANS. THIS LOW
WILL WEAKEN AS IT MOVES NORTHWARD OVER THE NEXT TWO DAY. ANOTHER LOW
WILL MOVE INTO THE WESTERN ALEUTIAN ISLANDS OVER THE WEEKEND.
SOUTHWEST ALASKA IS SEEING A LITTLE MORE WEATHER THAN WAS
ANTICIPATED. AREAS OF FOG AND LIGHT SNOW PERSIST OVER THE KUSKOKWIM
DELTA AND OVER SOME COASTAL SECTIONS OF BRISTOL BAY. THESE AREAS
SHOULD DIMINISH LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN REFORM AS AREAS OF
STRATUS OVERNIGHT.

MODELS REMAIN IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH THE WEEKEND PERIODS.
SMALL DIFFERENCE IN THE GFS AND NAM WITH THE RIDGE BUILDING INTO THE
GULF OF ALASKA THIS WEEKEND BE THIS WILL HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON
FORECASTS.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...HIGH WIND WARNING 187 191.
MARINE...GALE 170 171 172 179 185.
         STORM 175 176.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

MAR 07