Gale Warning 279, NWS Anchorage, AK

000 
FZAK52 PAFC 070058
CWFALU

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE ALASKA
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

MARINE FORECAST FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE
ALASKA PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS UP TO 100 NM OUT.

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT AN AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST
ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ199-071500-
.SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHWEST ALASKA+BRISTOL BAY+THE ALASKA
PENINSULA WATERS AND THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS...

A 978 MB LOW 90 NM SOUTHWEST OF NUNIVAK ISLAND WILL DRIFT TO 
100 NM NORTH OF SAINT PAUL FRI AFTERNOON AND THEN DISSIPATE 
FRI NIGHT AND SAT OVER THE EASTERN BERING. A 971 MB LOW 375 NM
SOUTHEAST OF KODIAK CITY WILL MOVE TO 90 NM NORTHEAST OF KODIAK 
CITY FRI MORNING AND THEN WEAKEN AS IT MOVES INLAND FRI AFTERNOON 
AND EVENING.

$$

PKZ150-071500-
COASTAL WATERS SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA SITKINAK TO CASTLE
CAPE
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 20 KT BECOMING NW 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
11 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY NEAR THE COAST.
.FRI...W WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
9 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ155-071500-
COASTAL WATERS SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA CASTLE CAPE TO CAPE
SARICHEF
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ160-071500-
BRISTOL BAY WATERS CAPE NEWENHAM TO PORT HEIDEN
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

.TONIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. 
.FRI...W WIND 20 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 15 KT IN THE EVENING BECOMING VARIABLE 10 KT. 
.SAT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 15 KT. 
.SUN THROUGH TUE...NW WIND 15 KT. 

$$

PKZ165-071500-
PORT HEIDEN TO CAPE SARICHEF
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.FRI...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.SAT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH MON...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT.  

$$

PKZ180-071500-
SOUTHWEST ALASKA WATERS CAPE NEWENHAM TO DALL POINT
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. 
.FRI...E WIND 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT THROUGH SAT NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. 
.SUN...N WIND 15 KT. 
.MON THROUGH TUE...NW WIND 15 KT. 

$$

PKZ170-071500-
EASTERN ALEUTIANS CAPE SARICHEF TO NIKOLSKI
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

PKZ171-071500-
UNALASKA BAY
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

.TONIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.FRI...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 
.SAT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 3 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.MON THROUGH TUE...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 

$$

PKZ172-071500-
EASTERN ALEUTIANS NIKOLSKI TO ADAK
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH FRIDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT AND SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ175-071500-
WESTERN ALEUTIANS ADAK TO KISKA
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.FRI THROUGH SAT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.TUE...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT.  

$$

PKZ176-071500-
WESTERN ALEUTIANS KISKA TO ATTU
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ185-071500-
ST MATTHEW ISLAND WATERS
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. HEAVY FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.FRI...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. HEAVY FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT AND SAT NIGHT...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. 
.SUN...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 3 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. 
.MON THROUGH TUE...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. 

$$

PKZ179-071500-
PRIBILOF ISLANDS NEAR-SHORE WATERS
400 PM AST THU MAR 6 2008

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. SNOW SHOWERS.
FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. FREEZING SPRAY.
.FRI NIGHT...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. FREEZING
SPRAY. 
.SAT THROUGH SUN...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 3 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS.

.MON...NW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 3 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS. 
.TUE...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT IN ICE FREE WATERS.  

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
500 AM AST THU MAR 6 2008

.MODEL DISCUSSION...MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH 48 HOURS.
DIVERGENCE BEGINS FRIDAY EVENING AS LOW PROGGED TO BE NEAR KODIAK
ISLAND MOVES INLAND. ECMWF WANTS TO RAPIDLY WEAKEN THE LOW AS IT
MOVES INTO THE WESTERN INTERIOR. THE GFS NAM AND UKMET MAINTAIN ITS
INTENSITY BUT DISAGREE ON THE LOWS TRACK. GFS HAS HAD GOOD RUN TO RUN
CONSISTENCY AND IS THE PREFERRED MODEL FOR OPERATIONAL PURPOSES.

.UPPER LEVELS...
UPPER LEVEL PATTERN IS PROGRESSIVE. RIDGE ALOFT OVER MAINLAND ALASKA
AND WESTERN CANADA WILL EDGE EASTWARD FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO CANADA
THROUGH THE NEXT 72 HOURS AND BEYOND. MEANWHILE A LARGE DEEP UPPER
LOW OVER THE BERING SEA AND CENTRAL ALEUTIANS EDGES EASTWARD
WEAKENING IN THE PROCESS.

.SURFACE FEATURES...
THE OLD LOW 976 MB LOW OVER THE ALASKA PENINSULA WILL DISSIPATE NEAR
THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS FRI AFTERNOON. A SMALL 982 MB LOW JUST SOUTH OF
ADAK DISSIPATES SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA FRI NIGHT. A NEW 980 MB
LOW OUT OF THE NORTH PACIFIC WILL BE THE MAIN WEATHER MAKER. IT IS
HEADING DUE NORTH TOWARD KODIAK ISLAND AND WILL BECOME A 969 MB LOW
JUST EAST OF KODIAK ISLAND FRIDAY MORNING. THE LOW THEN MOVES INLAND
NEAR KAMISHAK BAY FRIDAY EVENING AND WEAKENS TO 983 MB OVER THE
WESTERN LOWER YUKON VALLEY FRIDAY NIGHT. THE ASSOCIATED WEATHER FRONT
WILL ENTER THE GULF OF ALASKA THIS AFTERNOON AND REACH THE NORTH GULF
COAST LATE TONIGHT AND THE SOUTHERN SLOPES OF THE ALASKA RANGE BY
FRIDAY NIGHT.

.SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA AND KODIAK ISLAND...
STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS HAVE DIMINISHED ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA FOR
THE MOMENT BUT STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REDEVELOP THIS EVENING
THROUGH THE USUAL CHANNELED AREAS. TURNAGAIN ARM AND THE COPPER RIVER
DELTA ARE THE PRIMARY CONCERNS. HIGH WIND WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED.
COPIOUS RAINFALL FROM THE LAST SYSTEM HAS LEFT SOME AREAS OF
SOUTHCENTRAL WITH URBAN FLOODING CONCERNS. THE NEXT FRONT IS LIKELY
TO EXACERBATE THIS PROBLEM AS IT TOO HAS PLENTY OF BOTH MOISTURE AND
LIFT. PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AND THE KENAI PENINSULA WILL BE THE MOST
VULNERABLE.

.SOUTHWESTERN ALASKA AND THE ALASKA PENINSULA...
BRIEF BREAK TODAY THROUGH TOMORROW BEFORE NEXT LOW ARRIVES FRIDAY
NIGHT. SOUTHWESTERN ALASKA SHOULD REMAIN IN THE COLD QUADRANT OF THIS
NEXT SYSTEM SO IT SHOULD BE A GOOD SNOW MAKER.

.PRIBILOFS AND ALEUTIAN CHAIN...
WEAK TO MODERATE NORTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD CAA SNOW
SHOWERS ACROSS THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS AND ALEUTIAN CHAIN THROUGH AT
LEAST THE WEEKEND.

.BEYOND 48 HOURS...
UPPER LEVEL STEERING FLOW WILL DIRECT EACH NEW NORTH PACIFIC STORM
ALONG A MORE AND MORE EASTWARD TRACK. THUS SOUTHERLY FLOW AND WARM
AIR ADVECTION OVER THE GULF OF ALASKA AND SOUTHERN MAINLAND WILL BE
REPLACED BY NORTHWESTERLY FLOW AND COLD AIR ADVECTION BY MONDAY
MORNING. EXPECT SURFACE TEMPS TO FALL BACK DOWN TOWARDS
CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMS BEGINNING THIS WEEKEND.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...HWW 101 125 135
MARINE...GALE  125 129 132 138 140 141
         STORM 120 130
         HEAVY SPRAY 185
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

ASB MAR 08