Small Craft Advisory 81, NWS Anchorage, AK

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
300 PM AST FRI JAN 19 2007

.DISCUSSION...TWO WEAK LOWS REMAIN THE FOCUS OF THE WEATHER AROUND
SOUTHERN ALASKA TODAY.
THE EASTERN LOW IS IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AND BRINGING MODERATE SNOW
TO THE VALDEZ AREA AND OTHER AREAS AROUND PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND. THIS
LOW IS CONTINUING TO WEAKEN AND WILL MOVE INTO THE COPPER RIVER BASIN
OVERNIGHT AND DISSIPATE. AREAS OF LIGHT SNOW PERSISTS IN NORTHERN
COOK INLET AND THE SUSITNA VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON BUT ARE NOT EXPECTED
TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS.
THE NEXT LOW IN THE EAST WILL ARRIVE IN THE GULF OF ALASKA SATURDAY
AFTERNOON AND HEAD TO YAKUTAT SUNDAY. THIS TRACK WILL MINIMIZE THE
IMPACT OF THIS LOW OVER THE FORECAST AREA. BIGGEST IMPACT WILL BE IN
THE GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE WATERS AREA AND THE NORTH GULF COAST.
THIS LOW IS ALREADY EVIDENT ON SATELLITE IMAGERY NEAR 45N 160W THIS
AFTERNOON. THIS LOW HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR THE MODELS TO RESOLVE THE
LAST FEW DAYS BUT THE MODELS SEEM TO ALL BE CONVERGING ON THE
SOLUTION THAT BRINGS THIS LOW INTO YAKUTAT.

IN THE WEST THE LOW NEAR BRISTOL BAY IS VERY SLOWLY WEAKENING AND
DRIFTING EAST. SNOW SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LOW WILL PERSIST
NEAR IT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. COLD AIR ADVECTION BEHIND THIS LOW IS
INCREASING AND PUSHING WINDS IN THE PRIBILOFS TO OVER 40 MPH. THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT IN THE EASTERN BERING SEA IS ALSO IS ACCENTUATED BY
A RIDGE IN THE WEST AND CENTRAL BERING SEA THAT WILL REMAIN NEARLY
STATIONARY THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...GALE 179. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY 179 185.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

JAN 07