Heavy Freezing Spray Warning 133, NWS Anchorage, AK

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
100 PM AKST SAT MAR 10 2012

NW JET MAX WITH UPPER TROF HAS MOVED FROM BRISTOL BAY TO THE
SOUTHWESTERN GULF. STORM FORCE WNW WINDS GUSTS HAVE OCCURRED THROUGH
THE BARRENS AND PORTIONS OF KAMISHAK BAY SATURDAY MORNING. CHANNELED
AREAS OF KODIAK ISLAND REMAIN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GALES (PAKH
G53KTS OR 61 MPH). WIND AND LOW TEMPERATURES ALSO PRODUCING HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY WARNINGS FROM CAPE SERICHEF TO THE WESTERN GULF.
MOST AREAS OF PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AND THE NORTH GULF COAST WILL
EXPERIENCE SOME PERIODS OF OCCASIONAL LIGHT SNOW AT TIMES. A MORE
CONTINUOUS SNOW PATTERN MAY REACH KODIAK ISLAND AS EARLY AS MID
AFTERNOON SUNDAY OR AS LATE AS SUNDAY NIGHT BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME
FUTURE AMOUNTS DON'T APPEAR TOO HEAVY AND THE MAIN SNOW AREA WILL BE
CONFINED TO THE EAST SIDE OF THE ISLAND.

ALEUTIAN LOW TO CONTINUE WEAKENING AS IT SLIDES EAST SOUTHEAST THIS
EVENING FOLLOWED BY THE ARCTIC HIGH WHICH WILL RIDGE SOUTHWARD ALONG
170W TONIGHT. LIGHT SNOW AND FLURRIES COULD LINGER IN THE GREATER
UNALASKA AREA THROUGH A GOOD PORTION OF THE SATURDAY EVENING. NEXT
STORM FROM THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC TO BEGIN EFFECTING THE SHEMYA AREA
TOWARD SUNDAY MORNING. WINDY WET AND MILD CONDITIONS WILL SPREAD
ACROSS THE ADAK AND ATKA AREAS DURING THE AFTERNOON MONDAY. AT THIS
TIME GALES SHOULD COVER THE MARINE WIND FORECAST, HOWEVER, THERE COULD
BE A NARROW BAND OF STORMS RIGHT ALONG AND JUST IN ADVANCE OF THE
FRONT OVER THE SOUTHWEST BERING. STORM FORCE EASTERLIES LOOK MORE
REASONABLE ACROSS THE WEST CENTRAL BERING LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AS THE 967
MB LOW CENTER MOVES CLOSE TO ATTU ISLAND. STORM FORCE WESTERLIES ARE A
LIKELY ON MONDAY FOR ZONE 191 AS THE STORM MOVES EASTWARD TO THE DUTCH
HARBOR AREA LATE MONDAY NIGHT, CONTINUING SOUTHEAST FROM THERE.

NOT MUCH CHANGE IN STORE FOR SOUTHERN ALASKA THROUGH NEXT WEEK AS A
Q.S. SURFACE LOW REMAINS IN THE WESTERN GULF, JUST EAST OF KODIAK
ISLAND, AND COLD NORTH AND NORTHWEST WINDS SPREAD SURGES OF ARCTIC AIR
OVER THE SOUTHERN BERING, ALL OF THE ALEUTIANS AND BEYOND. EAST AND
SOUTHEAST WIND FLOW OFF THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL CARRY BANDS OF SNOW
SHOWERS OF VARYING INTENSITY AND DURATION INTO THE NORTH GULF COAST,
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AND SOUTHERN/EASTERN KENAI PENINSULA. COPPER
RIVER BASIN WILL HAVE VARIABLE CLOUDINESS.

CHANCES FOR SNOW INCREASE FOR MORE OF SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA BEGINNING
TUESDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH ABOUT FRIDAY OR SO.

BY MID WEEK ANOTHER COLD UPPER LOW SETS UP OVER THE ALEUTIAN RANGE AND
IS FORECAST TO BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK
AND BEYOND. THEREFORE, SEA ICE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND ADVANCE
SOUTHWARD, MAINLY IN THE SOUTHEAST BERING/BRISTOL BAY AREAS. HEAVY
FREEZING SPRAY CONDITIONS INCREASE AGAIN BY THURSDAY AS WINDS INCREASE
AND BLOW OFF THE ICE PACK.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...NONE
MARINE...POSSIBLE STORMS SOUTHWEST BERING TONIGHT AND WESTERN
ALEUTIANS (ZONES 175 AND 176) LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. GALES 130,
132..138..150..155..165..172..175..176.

PERCY MAR 12