Gale Warning 250, NWS Anchorage, AK

335 
FZAK62 PAFC 162314
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 16 2011

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.

PKZ499-171600-
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 16 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A LARGE 943 MB LOW NEAR 46N 162E INTENSIFIES TO 939 MB TONIGHT NEAR
49N 166E AND THEN WEAKENS TO 960 MB NEAR 57N 174E SAT AFTERNOON.
$$

PKZ411-171600-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 16 2011

...STORM WARNING THROUGH THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...E WIND 35 KT INCREASING TO 50 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 16
FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.THU...SE WIND 50 KT. EXCEPT SE WIND 40 KT SOUTH OF 56 N. SEAS 19 FT.
RAIN AND SNOW. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 25 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 30 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 27 FT. 
.SAT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-171600-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 16 2011

...STORM WARNING THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 45 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
11 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...SE WIND 55 KT. SEAS 20 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY IN
THE MORNING. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
20 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI AND FRI NIGHT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-171600-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 16 2011

...STORM WARNING THURSDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT INCREASING TO 45 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
13 FT. RAIN.
.THU...SE WIND 50 KT. SEAS 17 FT. RAIN.
.THU NIGHT...S WIND 45 KT. SEAS 20 FT. RAIN.
.FRI...S WIND 45 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SUN AND MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 

$$

PKZ414-171600-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKDT WED MAR 16 2011

...GALE WARNING THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...NW WIND 15 KT BECOMING NE 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS IN
ICE FREE WATERS 6 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 30 KT INCREASING TO 45 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS IN
ICE FREE WATERS 12 FT. RAIN AND SNOW.
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. RAIN AND
SNOW. 
.FRI THROUGH SAT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 14 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT.  

$$

221 
FZAK62 PAFC 171155
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011

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.

PKZ499-180400-
400 AM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A STRONG 937 MB LOW NEAR 48N 165E WEAKENS TO 948 MB NEAR 54N 173E
LATE THU NIGHT AND THEN CONTINUES TO WEAKEN TO 964 MB NEAR 59N 170E
LATE FRI NIGHT. A 991 MB NORTH PACIFIC LOW WILL STRENGTHEN TO 973 MB
NEAR 49N 173W LATE FRI NIGHT.

$$

PKZ411-180400-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 40 TO 50 KT BECOMING 30 TO 40 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
SEAS 16 TO 20 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 20 TO 28 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI...S WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 24 TO 32 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 20 TO 28 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 19 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-180400-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 40 TO 50 KT. SEAS 15 TO 20 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
15 TO 19 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 24 TO 28 FT.
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 24 TO 28 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 18 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-180400-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011

...STORM WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 40 TO 50 KT. SEAS 16 FT. RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 13 TO 16 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 TO 25 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 18 TO 25 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 22 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-180400-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT INCREASING TO 35 TO 45 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 7 FT BUILDING TO 11 FT IN THE
AFTERNOON. 
.TONIGHT...SE WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 12 FT. AREAS
OF FOG. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.FRI...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 16 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 18 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 20 FT.  

$$

429 
FZAK62 PAFC 172328
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011

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.

PKZ499-181600-
400 PM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...
A STRONG 940 MB LOW NEAR 51N 169E WEAKENS TO 959 MB NEAR 58N 173E
FRI AFTERNOON AND THEN MOVES TO 61N 169E AT 973 MB SAT AFTERNOON. A
WEATHER FRONT IN THE CENTRAL BERING MOVES INTO THE EASTERN BERING ON
FRI MORNING AND DISSIPATES. A 984 MB LOW NEAR 47N 175W SAT MORNING
STRENGTHENS TO 968 MB NEAR 54N 171W SAT AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ411-181600-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 PM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. RAIN.
.FRI...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 31 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 29 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-181600-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 PM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 TO 50 KT DIMINISHING TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 20 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 21 FT BUILDING TO 27 FT IN THE AFTERNOON.
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 28 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.SAT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 23 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.MON...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 16 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-181600-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 PM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011

...STORM WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 40 TO 50 KT DIMINISHING TO S 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEAS 19 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 21 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 24 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT AND SUN...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 22 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 16 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-181600-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 PM AKDT THU MAR 17 2011

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SE WIND 45 KT DIMINISHING TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. SNOW AND RAIN. 
.FRI...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.FRI NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 14 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 15 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 18 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 21 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 17 FT.  

$$

889 
FZAK62 PAFC 181152
OFFALU

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKDT FRI MAR 18 2011

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.

PKZ499-190400-
400 AM AKDT FRI MAR 18 2011
.SYNOPSIS FOR CENTRAL BERING SEA...

A 949 MB LOW NEAR 54N 172E WEAKENS TO 969 MB NEAR 59N 171E SAT
MORNING BEFORE WEAKENING IN PLACE AND DISSIPATING LATE SAT NIGHT. A
980 MB LOW NEAR 48N 174W LATE FRI NIGHT STRENGTHENS TO 962 MB NEAR
54N 169W SAT AFTERNOON AND THEN SLOWLY WEAKENS TO 966 MB NEAR 59N
167W LATE SAT NIGHT.

$$

PKZ411-190400-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE WEST OF 180 AND EAST OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE
400 AM AKDT FRI MAR 18 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...S WIND 35 TO 45 KT. SEAS 23 TO 29 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 29 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...SW WIND 20 TO 30 KT. SEAS 21 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.SUN...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 19 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS 14 FT.  

$$

PKZ412-190400-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND NORTH OF 56N
400 AM AKDT FRI MAR 18 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...SE WIND 35 KT. SEAS 20 FT BUILDING TO 26 FT IN THE
AFTERNOON. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...S WIND 35 KT. SEAS 26 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 16 FT. 
.SUN...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT.  

$$

PKZ413-190400-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE 171W TO 180 AND SOUTH OF 56N
400 AM AKDT FRI MAR 18 2011

...GALE WARNING THROUGH SATURDAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 40 KT. SEAS 26 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 40 KT BECOMING S 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
25 FT. 
.SAT...W OF 176W...S WIND 25 KT BECOMING W 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.
E OF 176W...S WIND 25 KT BECOMING N 40 KT IN AFTERNOON. SEAS 19 FT.
RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 18 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS 17 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 23 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 15 FT.  

$$

PKZ414-190400-
BERING SEA OFFSHORE EAST OF 171W
400 AM AKDT FRI MAR 18 2011

...STORM WARNING SATURDAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 11 FT. SNOW AND RAIN.
.TONIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 13 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 25 KT BECOMING E 50 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS IN ICE
FREE WATERS 17 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.SAT NIGHT...W WIND 50 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 20 FT. 
.SUN...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 19 FT. 
.MON...SW WIND 35 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 21 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 20 KT. SEAS IN ICE FREE WATERS 16 FT.  

$$

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1230 PM AKDT TUE MAR 15 2011

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...STRONG UPPER HIGH REMAINS CENTERED
OVER THE BERING STRAIT THIS MORNING ALTHOUGH ITS INFLUENCED ON
THE SURROUNDING AREA HAS WANED OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. A SERIES
OF UPPER LOWS HAVE SET UP SHOP SOUTH OF THE HIGH...ONE NEAR THE
ALASKA PENINSULA AND ONE NEAR THE PRIBILOFS WITH A GENERAL WESTWARD
MOVEMENT...AND THEN ANOTHER JUST WEST OF THE ALEUTIANS MOVING
EASTWARD.

AT THE SURFACE A MODERATE STRENGTH LOW IS MOVING WESTWARD ACROSS
THE GULF TOWARD KODIAK ISLAND. MIDDLETON ISLAND RADAR SHOWS A SOLID
AREA OF PRECIPITATION PRIMARILY OFFSHORE. PRESSURE GRADIENT DRIVEN
GAP WINDS CONTINUE IN THE USUAL PLACES. THE LOW LEVEL OFFSHORE FLOW
WILL MAINTAIN A VERY DRY AIR MASS NEAR THE SURFACE AND LIMIT
PRECIPITATION ALONG THE NORTH GULF COAST TO FLURRIES OR VERY LIGHT
SNOW. KODIAK ISLAND ON THE OTHER HAND IS RIGHT IN THE PATH OF THE
LOW SO EXPECT STEADY SNOW TO DEVELOP AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.
OUT WEST A SURFACE LOW IS WEAKENING AS IT TRACKS TOWARD THE
ALEUTIANS.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH THE NEXT
FEW DAYS WITH JUST A FEW MINOR DIFFERENCES IN POSITIONS OF SYNOPTIC
FEATURES. RUN-TO-RUN CONSISTENCY IS ALSO VERY GOOD.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA...AS THE GULF LOW APPROACHES KODIAK ISLAND
TONIGHT WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE AND SNOW WILL
INTENSIFY. DO NOT EXPECT WINDS TO BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE
A BLIZZARD BUT THERE WILL BE BLOWING SNOW WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
LOW VISIBILITIES AT TIMES. WITH STEADY SNOW ALL NIGHT WILL INCREASE
SNOW AMOUNTS. SURFACE TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR THE FREEZING
MARK WHICH SHOULD KEEP AMOUNTS BELOW ADVISORY LEVELS...ALTHOUGH
HIGHER ELEVATION AREAS MAY COME VERY CLOSE TO THE 6 INCH ADVISORY
THRESHOLD TONIGHT. THE NORTH GULF COAST WILL INITIALLY REMAIN
RIGHT ON THE PERIPHERY OF THIS SYSTEM...SO PRIMARY IMPACT WILL
BE CLOUDS. HOWEVER...AN UPPER LOW WILL FORM OVER THE SOUTHERN
GULF TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY AND HELP PUSH THE REMNANTS OF THE
OCCLUDED FRONT ONSHORE. THUS...EXPECT AN INCREASING CHANCE OF SNOW
ALONG COASTAL SOUTHCENTRAL WEDNESDAY. ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO
THURSDAY A TROUGH WILL DIG DOWN FROM THE NORTH BRINGING A CHANCE
OF SNOW TO THE REST OF SOUTHCENTRAL. IF IT DOES SNOW EXPECT IT WILL
BE LIGHT AND SHORT-LIVED AS THE UPPER TROUGH MOVES QUICKLY THROUGH.

SOUTHWEST ALASKA...THE ALASKA PENINSULA WILL SEE COME CLOUDS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE GULF LOW THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. THERE COULD
EVEN BE A FEW FLURRIES OR SNOW SHOWERS. OTHERWISE...SOUTHWEST
ALASKA WILL REMAIN DRY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE RIDGE TO THE
NORTH.

BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...UPPER LOW NEAR THE PRIBILOFS WILL TRACK
WESTWARD ACROSS THE BERING SEA WHILE THE LOW CURRENTLY WEST OF
THE ALEUTIANS TRACKS EASTWARD AND WEAKENS ALONG THE ALEUTIANS.
THE BIG STORY THOUGH IS THE MAJOR LOW WHICH WILL DEVELOP OVER
THE PACIFIC TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY AND INTO THE BERING BY FRIDAY.
THE SIZE OF THIS SYSTEM WILL BE HUGE WITH A ROUGH APPROXIMATED
AREA OF INFLUENCE OF 2500 MILES NORTH TO SOUTH AND 2500 MILES
EAST TO WEST. THE STRONGEST WINDS ON THE SOUTH TO WEST SIDE OF
THE LOW WILL OCCUR WHEN THE LOW IS STILL OVER THE NORTHWEST
PACIFIC...SO DO NOT EXPECT WARNING LEVEL WINDS. THE FRONTAL SYSTEM
WILL MOVE FAR OUT AHEAD OF THE LOW FROM THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON TO SOUTHWEST ALASKA FRIDAY...WITH WINDS
EXPECTED TO MAX OUT AT STORM FORCE. RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE AIRMASS
ALONG THE FRONT WILL BE TOO WARM FOR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...BUT
THIS WILL NEED TO BE RE-EVALUATED AS WE GET CLOSER.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...A RIDGE WILL BUILD OUT AHEAD OF THE RAPIDLY
INTENSIFYING NORTHWEST PACIFIC LOW ON WEDNESDAY AND THEN MERGE
WITH THE HIGH OVER THE BERING STRAIT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY...
CREATING A VERY HIGH AMPLITUDE RIDGE OVER MAINLAND ALASKA THURSDAY
NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS DIFFER ON THE EASTWARD
PROGRESSION OF THIS RIDGE...AND THUS ON WHETHER THE FRONT EVER
MAKES IT ANY FURTHER THAN SOUTHWEST ALASKA BEFORE FALLING APART.
THERE IS EVEN LARGER DIFFERENCES IN MODEL SOLUTIONS WITH HANDLING
OF NEXT LOW MOVING UP FROM THE PACIFIC OVER THE WEEKEND. BOTTOM
LINE THOUGH...THIS MAJOR PATTERN CHANGE WILL LIKELY BRING A RETURN
OF CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION BACK TO MAINLAND ALASKA SOMETIME LATE
THIS WEEK OR EARLY NEXT WEEK.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE.
MARINE...STORM WARNING 175 176.
         GALE WARNING...172.
FIRE WEATHER...NONE.

SEB MAR 11