Gale Warning 917, NWS Anchorage, AK

000 
FZAK62 PAFC 110036
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST THU DEC 10 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

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.

PKZ499-111500-
400 PM AKST THU DEC 10 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 985 LOW AT 47N 178E MOVES TO NEAR 52N 174E FRIDAY NIGHT AT 976 MB
AND THEN MOVES TO NEAR 53N 168E SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUES TO
DISSIPATE. LATE SATURDAY MORNING A 973 MB LOW NEAR 47N 173W MOVES TO
NEAR 48N 178W LATE SUNDAY MORNING AT 980 MB.

$$

PKZ411-111500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST THU DEC 10 2009

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND
SNOW. 
.SAT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-111500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST THU DEC 10 2009

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.FRI...E WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT. HIGHEST SEAS W. PATCHY
FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...E WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 15 FT. HIGHEST SEAS W.
PATCHY FOG. 
.SAT...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 7 TO 14 FT. HIGHEST SEAS W.
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 TO 11 FT. HIGHEST SEAS W. 
.SUN...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-111500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST THU DEC 10 2009

...GALE WARNING FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. PATCHY FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI...E WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 14 FT. HIGHEST SEAS W. PATCHY
FOG. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 30 TO 40 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 TO 30 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 9 TO 15 FT. HIGHEST SEAS W. PATCHY FOG. RAIN.
.SAT...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 

$$

PKZ414-111500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST THU DEC 10 2009

.TONIGHT...E WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.FRI...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.FRI NIGHT...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. HIGHEST SEAS S AND
W. PATCHY FOG. 
.SAT...E WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 9 FT. HIGHEST SEAS S AND W.
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. HIGHEST SEAS S AND W.
.SUN...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.MON AND TUE...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 

$$

000 
FZAK62 PAFC 111230
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

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.

PKZ499-120300-
400 AM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 985 LOW NEAR 48N 179E MOVES TO 53N 174E FRI NIGHT AT 981 MB. THE
LOW THEN MOVES TO 55N 168E AT 998 MB SAT EVENING AND CONTINUES TO 
DISSIPATE. A 974 MB LOW NEAR 47N 164W LATE SAT MORNING MOVES TO
45N 162W LATE SUNDAY MORNING AT 966 MB.

$$

PKZ411-120300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E WIND INCREASING TO 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. RAIN AND SNOW
SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 11 TO 14 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SUN...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-120300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 

$$

PKZ413-120300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 12 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 

$$

PKZ414-120300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009

.TODAY...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.SAT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK62 PAFC 120008
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

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.

PKZ499-121500-
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 982 MB LOW NEAR 52N 178E WILL MOVE TO NEAR 56N 167E AT 1003 MB
SUNDAY MORNING. A LOW FROM THE CENTRAL PACIFIC WILL MOVE TO NEAR 45N
160W AT 967 MB BY SUNDAY MORNING AND THEN REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY
AND WEAKEN TO 974 MB BY MONDAY MORNING.

$$

PKZ411-121500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SUN...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-121500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 7 TO 13 FT. HIGHEST SEAS W. SNOW
AND RAIN.
.SAT...SE WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 6 TO 11 FT. HIGHEST SEAS W. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH MON...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-121500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 13 FT. HIGHEST SEAS W. 
.SAT...SE WIND 15 TO 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 5 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-121500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST FRI DEC 11 2009

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT. HIGHEST WINDS AND
SEAS S AND W. PATCHY FOG. 
.SAT...E WIND 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. HIGHEST WINDS AND SEAS S
AND W. 
.SAT NIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT. HIGHEST WINDS AND
SEAS S. 
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK62 PAFC 121241
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

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.

PKZ499-130300-
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 981 MB LOW NEAR 53N 174E WILL MOVE NEAR 55N 165E AT 1007 MB SUN
AFTERNOON BEFORE DISSIPATING. A COMPLEX AREA OF LOW PRESSURE AT 970
MB WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY NEAR 45N 158E. NORTHEAST FLOW WILL
PERSIST THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. 

$$

PKZ411-130300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 10 TO 14 FT. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 8 TO 11 FT. 
.SUN...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.MON...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-130300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 35 KT BECOMING 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
SEAS 10 TO 14 FT. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT THROUGH WED...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 

$$

PKZ413-130300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SUN...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-130300-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009

.TODAY...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.MON THROUGH TUE...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

000 
FZAK62 PAFC 130051
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA

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.

PKZ499-131500-
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A 987 MB LOW NEAR 52N 171E MOVES TO NEAR THE KAMCHATKA PENINSULA
SUNDAY NIGHT AND WEAKENS TO 1008 MB. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER
EASTERN RUSSIA SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY.
$$

PKZ411-131500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009

.TONIGHT...E TO SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SUN AND SUN NIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.MON AND MON NIGHT...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.TUE...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-131500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009

.TONIGHT...E WIND 30 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.MON NIGHT THROUGH WED...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-131500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009

.TONIGHT...E WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT THROUGH TUE...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-131500-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKST SAT DEC 12 2009

.TONIGHT...E WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.SUN NIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.TUE...N WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.WED...N WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU...NE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA
500 PM AKST WED DEC 9 2009

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
LARGE OMEGA BLOCK REMAINS ENTRENCHED OVER THE ALASKA REGION TODAY.
STRONG UPPER LEVEL HIGH REMAINS TO THE EAST WITH A WEAKENING UPPER
LEVEL LOW IN THE WEST OVER THE BERING SEA. THIS PATTERN IS REFLECTED
VERY WELL TO THE SURFACE...WITH HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATING OVER THE
EAST AND A SERIES OF FAIRLY WEAK SURFACE LOWS ROTATING AROUND EACH
OTHER IN THE BERING SEA.  THE MOST ACTIVE WEATHER CAN BE FOUND ALONG
THE BORDER BETWEEN THE HIGH AND THE LOW THROUGH THE ALASKAN
PENINSULA. AS THE WEEK PROGRESSES THE PATTERN WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT
WESTWARD...SHIFTING THE WEATHER WESTWARD AS WELL.  THIS WILL BRING
COLDER AIR INTO THE SURFACE LOWS IN THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS AND PRODUCE
STRONG SYSTEMS...BUT NO WARNINGS ON THE HORIZON.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
MODELS WERE IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN THE SHORT TERM TODAY...WITH SOME
MINOR DIFFERENCES ON THE SURFACE LOWS WOBBLING THROUGH THE ALEUTIANS.
THE FIRST MAJOR DIFFERENCES DO NOT SHOW UP UNTIL 84 HOURS WHERE THE
GFS AND THE ECMWF DIFFER ON THE TRACK OF THE NEXT LOW...HOWEVER THIS
PERIOD IS BEYOND OUR IMMEDIATE CONCERN. FOR THE SHORT TERM
FORECAST...GFS WAS PREFERRED FOR THE WESTERN ZONES FOR LOCATION OF
THE LOWS IN THE ALEUTIANS...WHILE NAM WAS PREFERRED IN THE EAST FOR
BETTER RESOLUTION ON TEMPERATURES AND FOG.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
OVER THE MAINLAND...MAIN CONCERNS TODAY ARE TEMPERATURES AND
FOG/STRATUS ALONG THE COAST.  FOG IS THE MAIN CHALLENGE WITH VERY
LIGHT FLOW IN MOST REGIONS.  ALONG THE KENAI PENINSULA AND GULF COAST
THE FOG IS MAINLY ADVECTING IN FROM THE WATER SO IT IS HIGHLY
DEPENDENT ON THE DIRECTION OF THE WINDS.  AS THE HIGH MOVES OVERHEAD
IT WILL BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT THE DIRECTION OF THE FOG.
BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON SLIGHT DOWN INLET FLOW SHOULD DEVELOP...HELPING
TO PUSH THE FOG BACK OUT TO SEA.  HOWEVER...THIS PATTERN HAS BEEN
RELUCTANT TO SET UP OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS.  IN THE ANCHORAGE
AREA FOG SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY DIURNAL WITH DENSE FOG INCREASING IN THE
MORNING HOURS WITH INCREASED MIXING FROM THE SUN AND EARLY MORNING
TRAFFIC.  HIGH TIDE HAS ALSO BEEN PROLONGING THE FOG WITH THE
POSSIBILITY OF THE MORNING FOG LASTING ALL DAY UNTIL THE DOWN INLET
FLOW SETS UP.  OTHER AREAS IN SOUTHCENTRAL HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO ESCAPE
THE FOG...SUCH AS THE SUSITNA VALLEY WHICH HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A
SLIGHT DRAINAGE FLOW FROM THE NORTH...OR THE COPPER RIVER BASIN WHERE
THE MOISTURE SOURCE IS LACKING.  WESTERN AREAS ARE NOT HAVING AS MUCH
TROUBLE WITH THE FOG TODAY...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME PATCHES IN
THE BRISTOL BAY REGION.  THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE FLOW IS
PRIMARILY OFFSHORE...ALTHOUGH LAKE ILIAMNA REMAINS OPEN WATER WHICH
IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN THE BRISTOL BAY AREA.

AS FOR TEMPERATURE CONCERNS...THESE ARE MAINLY OUT WEST WHERE
TREMENDOUS TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS HAVE SET UP IN THE VALLEYS.  THE
TEMPERATURE INVERSION AT MCGRATH THIS MORNING WAS 54 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT...AS A RESULT TEMPS ALONG THE MOUNTAINS WILL BE MUCH
HIGHER.

BERING SEA AND ALEUTIANS...
A STRONG GRADIENT HAS SET UP BETWEEN THE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE
MAINLAND AND THE LOWS IN THE ALEUTIANS AND THIS IS BRINGING STRONG
WINDS TO THE ALASKA PENINSULA TODAY.  AS THE CURRENT SURFACE LOW
WEAKENS SLIGHTLY AND MOVES OFF TO THE WEST EXPECT WINDS TO DECREASE
TOMORROW MORNING. SOUTHWEST FLOW HAS BROUGHT UNSEASONABLY WARM
TEMPERATURES TO MOST OF THE BERING...SO EXPECT PRIMARILY RAIN NOT
SNOW THROUGH THE PERIOD.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...
NOT TOO MUCH CHANGE IN THE LONGTERM...ALTHOUGH PERHAPS A BIT OF A
SHIFT AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK AS THE HIGH MOVES WESTWARD.  THIS
SHOULD ALLOW COLDER AIR TO MOVE IN FROM CANADA AND OFFSHORE FLOW MAY
RETURN THE BERING TO MORE SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES.  FOR THE MAINLAND
THE DRY PATTERN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...WITH THE FIRST
SHOT AT PRECIPITATION AT THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE
MARINE...GALES 160 165 170 179 180 185
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

LEWF DEC 09