ABAK01 PANC 182359
ANCSWSAK

ALASKA WEATHER SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VALDEZ AK
4 PM AST THU MAR 18 2004

TODAY'S WEATHER MAP SHOWED A LARGE...INTENSE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE 
CENTERED OVER THE BEARING SEA WITH AN EQUALLY LARGE...INTENSE LOW 
MOVING INLAND OVER THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE SOUTHEAST ALASKA 
PANHANDLE. STRONG GUSTY NORTH WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES DOMINATED
THE MAJORITY OF THE STATE AS THESE TWO PRESSURE SYSTEMS BATTLED FOR 
CONTROL. 

WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES HELD BELOW ZERO OVER THE TOP TWO THIRDS OF 
THE STATE WHICH INCLUDED NORTHERN AND INTERIOR ALASKA...WESTERN
ALASKA AND THE ALASKA PENINSULA. THE COLDEST WIND CHILLS WERE 
PRODUCED OVER THE NORTH SLOPE REGION WHERE WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES 
TOOK A NOSE DIVE TO 50 BELOW AND COLDER NEAR FROM ABOUT BARROW
EASTWARD OVER TO CANADA'S MACKENZIE BAY.

WARMER TEMPERATURES PERSISTED OVER THE SOUTHERN THIRD OF THE
STATE WHERE READINGS WERE SUSTAINED WELL ABOVE THE ZERO MARK.
NATURALLY...THE WARMEST LOCATIONS WERE IN THE BANANA BELT OF 
ALASKA...THE SOUTHEAST PANHANDLE...AND OVER THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. 
AFTERNOON HIGHS WERE CONSISTENTLY IN THE UPPER 30'S TO LOWER 40S IN
THESE LOCATIONS.  ACROSS THE STATE...AFTERNOON HIGH'S RANGED FROM 
25 BELOW AT DEADHORSE TO 45 ABOVE AT ADAK. 

SOME OF THE HIGHEST WIND GUSTS OCCURRED IN VALDEZ...ALONG THE 
NORTHERN GULF COAST...WHICH HAD PEAK WINDS OF OVER 50 MPH.

SCATTERED AREAS OF SNOW AND FOG EXISTED ON THE ALASKA MAINLAND WITH
SNOW REPORTED AT COLD BAY...FAIRBANKS AND SURROUNDING NEARBY 
COMMUNITIES INCLUDING NENANA. OTHERWISE PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY 
SKIES PREVAILED.  


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DR/JR MAR 04
 

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