Gale Warning 241, NWS Anchorage, AK

289 
FZAK61 PAFC 241152
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKDT SUN MAR 24 2013

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-250300-
400 AM AKDT SUN MAR 24 2013
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 999 MB LOW NEAR 55N 155W WILL MOVE TO 58N 148W AT 998 MB LATE SUN
AFTERNOON THEN MOVE TO 60N 149W LATE MON AFTERNOON AT 991 MB BEFORE
DRIFTING INTO PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AT 1001 MB LATE MON NIGHT. 

$$

PKZ351-250300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKDT SUN MAR 24 2013

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TODAY...SE WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT BECOMING W 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 9 FT.
RAIN AND SNOW. 
.MON...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-250300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM AKDT SUN MAR 24 2013

...GALE WARNING TONIGHT AND MONDAY...

.TODAY...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. RAIN AND SNOW. 
.TONIGHT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. 
.TUE...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.WED AND THU...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 

$$

374 
FZAK61 PAFC 242316
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKDT SUN MAR 24 2013

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-251500-
400 PM AKDT SUN MAR 24 2013
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 999 MB LOW NEAR 58N 149W WILL MOVE TO 60N 148W AT 991 MB MON
AFTERNOON AND THEN BECOME STATIONARY WHILE WEAKENING OVER PRINCE
WILLIAM SOUND THROUGH TUE.
$$

PKZ351-251500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKDT SUN MAR 24 2013

...GALE WARNING MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...SW WIND 20 KT BECOMING W 30 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS
6 TO 10 FT. 
.MON...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 9 TO 14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-251500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKDT SUN MAR 24 2013

...GALE WARNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT INCREASING TO 35 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 7 FT
BUILDING TO 11 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.MON...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 10 TO 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.MON NIGHT...W WIND 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...SW WIND 25 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU AND FRI...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 

$$

906 
FZAK61 PAFC 251152
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKDT MON MAR 25 2013

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-260300-
400 AM AKDT MON MAR 25 2013
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 996 MB LOW NEAR 60N 149W WILL MOVE TO 60N 148W AT 992 MB MON
AFTERNOON...THEN BECOME STATIONARY WHILE WEAKENING OVER PRINCE
WILLIAM SOUND THROUGH LATE TUE NIGHT. 

$$

PKZ351-260300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKDT MON MAR 25 2013

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 15 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...W WIND 40 KT. SEAS 16 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...W WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS
12 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.THU AND FRI...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 

$$

PKZ352-260300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM AKDT MON MAR 25 2013

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...

.TODAY...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.TONIGHT...W WIND 35 KT. SEAS 14 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

520 
FZAK61 PAFC 252317
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKDT MON MAR 25 2013

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-261500-
400 PM AKDT MON MAR 25 2013
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...
A 993 MB LOW NEAR 60N 148W WILL MOVE TO 61N 147W AT 1002 MB TONIGHT
AND THEN WILL REMAIN STATIONARY AND DISSIPATE BY TUE EVENING. HIGH
PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN OVER THE EASTERN GULF TUE NIGHT.
$$

PKZ351-261500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKDT MON MAR 25 2013

...GALE WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY...

.TONIGHT...W WIND 30 TO 40 KT. SEAS 16 TO 20 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE...W WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT BY MIDDAY. SEAS 16 FT
SUBSIDING TO 11 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TUE NIGHT...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 TO 8 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 4 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-261500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKDT MON MAR 25 2013

.TONIGHT...W WIND 30 KT. SEAS 20 FT. 
.TUE...W WIND 25 KT BECOMING SW 15 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 16 FT
SUBSIDING TO 11 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. 
.TUE NIGHT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 7 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

615 
FZAK61 PAFC 261125
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 AM AKDT TUE MAR 26 2013

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-270300-
400 AM AKDT TUE MAR 26 2013
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 1000 MB LOW NEAR MONTAGUE ISLAND WILL MOVE INLAND NEAR CORDOVA AND
RAPIDLY WEAKEN TUE EVENING. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN OVER THE
EASTERN GULF TUE NIGHT. A WEATHER FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE SOUTHWEST
GULF WED AFTERNOON AND SLOWLY LIFT NORTHEAST THROUGH LATE WED NIGHT.

$$

PKZ351-270300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 AM AKDT TUE MAR 26 2013

...GALE WARNING TODAY...

.TODAY...W WIND 35 KT DIMINISHING TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 
14 FT. FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...W WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.WED...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 5 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-270300-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 AM AKDT TUE MAR 26 2013

.TODAY...W WIND 30 KT DIMINISHING TO 20 KT BY LATE MORNING. SEAS 12
FT. 
.TONIGHT AND WED...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.THU...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.  

$$

874 
FZAK61 PAFC 262302
OFFAER

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
400 PM AKDT TUE MAR 26 2013

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST FOR THE GULF OF ALASKA WEST OF 144W

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.

PKZ399-271500-
400 PM AKDT TUE MAR 26 2013
.SYNOPSIS FOR THE WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA...

A 1018 MB LOW NEAR 60N 146W WEAKENS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDS OVER THE EASTERN GULF WEDNESDAY. A WEATHER FRONT MOVES TO THE
WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA THURSDAY.

$$

PKZ351-271500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE NORTH OF 57N AND WEST OF 144W
400 PM AKDT TUE MAR 26 2013

.TONIGHT...W WIND 20 KT BECOMING VARIABLE LESS THAN 10 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 7 FT. PATCHY FOG. FREEZING SPRAY IN THE EVENING. 
.WED...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 4 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.THU...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. 
.THU NIGHT...SE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 13 FT. 
.FRI...SE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 11 FT. 
.SAT...S WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN...VARIABLE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ352-271500-
GULF OF ALASKA OFFSHORE SOUTH OF 57N NORTH OF 55N AND WEST OF
144W
400 PM AKDT TUE MAR 26 2013

.TONIGHT...WEST WIND 15 KT BECOMING S 10 KT BY MIDNIGHT. SEAS 6 FT.
PATCHY FOG. 
.WED...S WIND 20 KT. SEAS 5 FT. PATCHY FOG. 
.WED NIGHT...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 7 FT. 
.THU AND THU NIGHT...S WIND 30 KT. SEAS 12 FT. 
.FRI...S WIND 25 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SAT...SW WIND 20 KT. SEAS 9 FT.
.SUN...SW WIND 15 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

SOUTHCENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
350 PM AKDT SAT MAR 23 2013

.ANALYSIS AND UPPER LEVELS...
MUCH OF THE AOR IS DOMINATED BY A LONGWAVE TROUGH ALOFT. A NEARLY
STATIONARY LOW CENTERED OVER THE SEA OF OKHOTSK IS BEGINNING TO DRIFT
NORTH...WHILE AN ASSOCIATED FRONT IS MOVING EAST TOWARDS THE FAR
WESTERN CHAIN. UPPER-LVL RIDGING BUILDS DOWNSTREAM OF IT OVER THE
BERING SEA SUPPORTING SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE AND GENERALLY BENIGN
WEATHER. AN UPPER LOW SWINGS THROUGH THE AKPEN AND IS TRACKING
TOWARDS THE WESTERN GULF WITH A SHIELD OF SNOW...WITH IT'S NORTHERN
PERIPHERAL MOISTURE BRUSHING SOUTHERN BRISTOL BAY AS THIS OCCURS. AN
ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM JUST NORTH OF THE ALASKA RANGE IN CENTRAL
AK SUPPORTS A COLD AND DRY AIRMASS WHICH BLEEDS DOWN INTO SW AK. THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT REMAINS SQUEEZED ENOUGH TO SUPPORT BRISK WINDS AND
ADVISORY LEVEL WIND CHILLS NEAR 40 BELOW ZERO OVER THE KUSKOKWIM
DELTA. A STRONG VORTEX ALOFT NEAR TIN CITY, AK IS SWINGING SOUTH
THROUGH THE CHUCKHI SEA TOWARDS SW AK.

ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL AK...A FRONTAL ZONE WAS SLOW TO CLEAR UPPER COOK
INLET EARLIER TODAY ALLOWING SNOW/FLURRIES TO LINGER A BIT LONGER
ACROSS THE REGION. THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE FRONT IS DISSIPATING NOW
OVER THE FAR NORTHERN GULF...AND THOUGH IT'S ASSOCIATED LIFT IS
WEAKENING...MODESTLY STRONG ONSHORE FLOW CONTINUES TO ALLOW FOR AREAS
OF SNOW BACK THROUGH PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AND COPPER RIVER BASIN.
WEAK TRANSITORY UPPER RIDGING POKES THROUGH KODIAK ISLAND TO THE
SOUTHERN TO WESTERN GULF OF AK AHEAD OF THE NW AK VORTEX AND AKPEN
LOW.

.MODEL DISCUSSION...
OUT WEST...MODELS SHOW A WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE FORMING TONIGHT ALONG
THE FRONT WHICH IS NEARING THE FAR WESTERN CHAIN. THIS LOW CENTERED
AROUND 500 MILES SOUTH OF KISKA AT 1008 MB EARLY SUN MORNING WILL
THEN TRACK TO NEAR ADAK AT PEAK INTENSITY AROUND 1000 MB MON
AFTERNOON. MODELS AGREE THAT THE LOW THEN FILLS AS IT SKIMS THE
EASTERN CHAIN...DISSIPATING AROUND 250 MILES SOUTHEAST OF UNALASKA ON
TUE. A STRONGER 970 MB LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS DEPICTED MOVING TO
AROUND 600 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ATTU ON TUE...WITH AN ASSOCIATED FRONT
PUSHING INTO THE WESTERN CHAIN. THE ECMWF/GEM ARE DEEPEST WITH
CENTRAL PRESSURE FOR THIS FEATURE (LOW 960S MB)...BUT OVERALL
POSITION AND TREND IS SIMILAR AMONG THE SOLUTIONS. MODELS SHOW THAT
THE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL BERING SEA IS WEAKENED SOME AS
THESE SERIES OF LOWS PUSH INTO THE HIGH'S SUPPORTING UPPER-LVL RIDGE.
THE RIDGE IS FURTHER ERODED AND BROKEN FROM THE NORTHEAST BY THE
VORTEX SWINGING OUT OF THE CHUCKHI SEA.

IN THE EAST...THE LOW EJECTING OFF THE AKPEN MOVES TO AROUND 100
MILES SOUTHEAST OF KODIAK CITY AT 999 MB SUN MORNING...MOVES TO
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AT 991 MB ON MON AND THEN REMAINS STATIONARY
WHILE WEAKENING THROUGH TUE. ALOFT...THE ECMWF AND GEM SHOW PHASING
OF THIS LOW WITH THE STRONG VORTEX SWINGING DOWN SW AK LATE SUN NIGHT
OVER WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND. THE GFS AND NAM SHOW SOME PHASING
AS WELL...BUT LATER ON (MON) AND FURTHER EAST IN THE SOUND. HAVE
TENDED TO LEAN ON THE ECMWF WHICH HAS BEEN RATHER CONSISTENT THE LAST
FEW RUNS. THE DEGREE OF COLD ADVECTION DEPICTED AS THESE DYNAMICS
PLAY OUT IS RATHER SIMILAR HOWEVER. 850 MB TEMPERATURES OVER UPPER
COOK INLET DROP FROM -7 C SUN AFTERNOON TO -17 C BY MON AFTERNOON...
WITH EVEN FURTHER COOLING TO A TOUCH UNDER -20 C ON TUE. THIS ALL
OCCURING AS STRONG LIFT FROM THE SUPPORTING WAVES ALOFT SLOWLY
TRAVERSE THROUGH GIVES FAIRLY GOOD CONFIDENCE OF A RESPECTABLE SNOW
EVENT FOR MAINLAND SOUTHCENTRAL AK.

.SHORT TERM FORECAST...
SOUTHCENTRAL/GULF...
WITH THE TRANSITORY RIDGE PUSHING THROUGH KODIAK ISLAND BY EARLY THIS
EVENING...ONSHORE FLOW QUICKLY ESTABLISHES ITSELF AHEAD OF THE WAVE
PUSHING OFF THE AKPEN LEADING TO A RETURN OF SNOW OR SNOW/RAIN MIX.
WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN AS WELL...THOUGH BELIEVE WIND INTENSITY WILL
NOT BE STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING SNOW CONCERNS
WHILE PRECIP IS ONGOING. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BEGIN TO ARRIVE
LATE SUN NIGHT AFTER THE FLOW GOES OFF-SHORE AND SNOW WITH THE
SURFACE WAVE HAS MOVED TOWARDS THE SOUTHERN MAINLAND. WINDS DO TREND
TO GALES AND EVEN STORM FORCE WITH TIME AS THE COLD-ADVECTION BEGINS
BLEEDING THROUGH FAVORED GAPS OUT OF SHELIKOF STRAIT AND KAMISHAK
BAY.

ACROSS THE SOUTHERN MAINLAND...SNOW INTENSITY LIGHTENS UP WITH THE
DISSIPATION OF THE FRONT...BUT DOES NOT GO AWAY COMPLETELY ACROSS
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AS THE FLOW REMAINS SOMEWHAT ONSHORE...WITH SOME
LINGERING LIFT ALSO PESTERING THE COPPER RIVER BASIN. TEMPS
MEANDERING AROUND OR A HAIR ABOVE FREEZING AT THE SURFACE MAY ALLOW
SOME LOCALIZED AREAS TO SEE SOME RAIN MIXED IN OVER THE EASTERN
SOUND...BUT PREDOMINATELY SNOW IS EXPECTED. ELSEWHERE...ISENTROPIC
LIFT WILL BE ON THE INCREASE OVER THE KENAI PENINSULA AND UP COOK
INLET OVERNIGHT INTO SUN...WHICH MAY ALLOW FOR SOME LIGHT SNOW. THE
STRONGER REINFORCING SHOT LOOKS TO BE SUN NIGHT AND MON ASSOCIATED
WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED SURFACE WAVE MOVING UP THE GULF TO THE SOUND.

SOUTHWEST/AKPEN...
COLD AND DRY CHARACTERIZES MUCH OF INTERIOR SW ALASKA. ACROSS THE
KUSKOKWIM DELTA...BITING WIND CHILLS ARE PERSISTING IN THE COLD/DRY
AIRMASS. WINDS SHOULD SLACKEN A TOUCH ON SUN REDUCING THE THREAT OF
THE LOWEST CHILLS...BUT DO NOT LOOK TO GO CALM...SO REGARDLESS
CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN BRISK THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND. SNOW WITH
THE WAVE OVER THE AKPEN WILL BRUSH AREAS OF BRISTOL BAY...BUT WITH
THE PRE EXISTING AIRMASS RATHER DRY COUPLED WITH NORTH/DRY FLOW...THE
PRECIP SHIELD SHOULD HAVE TROUBLE PUSHING MUCH FURTHER WEST THAN KING
SALMON/NAKNEK. THUS AREAS SOUTH AND EAST OF DILLINGHAM HAVE THE BEST
CHANCES OF OVERNIGHT PRECIP. THE STRONGEST WINDS THE NEXT 24 HOURS
APPEAR TO BE AROUND THE AKPEN AND ADJACENT WATERS FROM CAPE SARICHEF
TO SITKINAK AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT REMAINS A BIT SQUEEZED IN THE
WAKE OF THE SURFACE WAVE WITH A SMALL PUSH OF COLD ADVECTION. PENDING
ON HOW MUCH TRANSPORTABLE SNOW EXISTS...THERE IS A CHANCE OF SOME
LOCALLY REDUCED VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW THROUGH THE AKPEN. AS THE
NW AK VORTEX SWINGS DOWN...IT HELPS FLATTEN THE BERING SEA RIDGE...
SUCH THAT HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL BERING SEA MIGRATES TO THE
WESTERN AKPEN BY LATE MON AND NEAR SW AK BY TUE. THIS SHOULD FINALLY
HELP TO RELAX THE PRESSURE GRADIENT LEADING TO WEAKER WINDS.

BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS...
THERE ARE SOME LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS OVER THE EASTERN CHAIN BUT
THESE SHOULD EBB AS SUBSIDENCE FROM HIGH PRESSURE SPREADS OVER THE
REGION. A DEEP LAYER OF COLD DRY AIR EVIDENT ON SATELLITE IMAGERY IS
POKING DOWN THROUGH THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS LEADING TO DECREASED CLOUDS
HERE WITH SOME OF THIS PUSHING TOWARDS THE EASTERN CHAIN ON SUN.
FURTHER WEST...BENIGN CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT TREND WETTER AND WINDIER
SUN TO MON AS THE PACIFIC WAVE APPROACHES. SLIGHTLY WARMING
TEMPERATURES SHOULD ALLOW PRECIP TO BE A MIX OF SNOW AND RAIN AS IT
OVERSPREADS THE CHAIN.

.LONG TERM FORECAST...
THE COLD VORTEX/UPPER LOW MEANDERING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN MAINLAND
EARLY IN THE WEEK BEGINS TO RETREAT BACK TOWARDS CENTRAL AK MID WEEK.
THIS SHOULD LOOSEN THE ARCTIC GRIP AND ALLOW FOR SOME MODERATION OF
TEMPERATURES...ESPECIALLY OVER SW AK. CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT WEAKENS A
BIT AS WELL...SO CHANCES OF PRECIP MAY DROP A BIT AS WELL. THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT ALSO SHOULD RELAX AND HELP WEAKEN WINDS THROUGH THE
GULF OF AK. OUT WEST...FORECAST CHALLENGES WILL SURROUND WHAT'S LEFT
OF THE 970 MB LOW...THOUGH IT SHOULD HAVE WEAKENED BY THE TIME IT
MOVES INTO THE ALEUTIAN CHAIN.

.AER/ALU...WATCH/WARNING SUMMARY
PUBLIC...WIND CHILL ADVISORY...155
MARINE...STORM...130
         GALE...120 132 136 137 138 150 155 165 176 351 352
         HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY...130 138 140 150 179 411 412 414
FIRE WEATHER...NONE

MALOY

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1014 AM AKDT SAT MAR 23 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1013 AM     SNOW             BIG LAKE                61.52N 149.95W
03/23/2013  M8.5 INCH                           AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            8.5 INCHES STORM TOTAL SINCE FRIDAY. STILL SNOWING.

&&

JAM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ANCHORAGE AK
1038 AM AKDT SAT MAR 23 2013

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0820 AM     SNOW             10 ESE CORDOVA          60.49N 145.48W
03/23/2013  M20.0 INCH                          AK   NWS EMPLOYEE

            20 INCHES STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATION AT CORDOVA AIRPORT AS
            OF 8AM SAT, WITH 13 INCHES BEFORE MIDNIGHT AND 7 INCHES
            SINCE MIDNIGHT.

0820 AM     SNOW             1 WSW CORDOVA           60.54N 145.77W
03/23/2013  M18.0 INCH                          AK   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATION AS OF 8AM AT CORDOVA HARBOR.

0820 AM     SNOW             CORDOVA                 60.55N 145.75W
03/23/2013  M24.0 INCH                          AK   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATION IN CORDOVA AS OF 8AM.

1000 AM     SNOW             1 WSW CORDOVA           60.54N 145.76W
03/23/2013  E24.0 INCH                          AK   PUBLIC

            STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATION OF 20-24 INCHES AT CORDOVA CITY
            HALL AS OF 10AM.

&&

CB