FXZS60 NSTU 200104
AFDPPG
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PAGO PAGO AS
200 PM SST MON JAN 18 2009
.SHORT TERM...
.TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...THE SATELLITE IMAGERIES SHOW A 
 TROUGH OVER THE ISLANDS AND A RIDGE FURTHER SOUTH. OVER TAHITI 
 IS AN INTENSE TROUGH WITH NUMEROUS LOWS. ONE OF THESE LOWS WILL
 BREAK OFF FROM THE TROUGH AND MOVE WEST BY TONIGHT. THE RIDGE 
 FURTHER SOUTH WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY. AS THE LOW PRESSURE
 SYSTEM MOVES WEST IT WILL INTENSIFY AS A RIDGE BUILDS TO THE 
 NORTH. THIS WILL DRAMATICALLY CHANGES WIND DIRECTIONS OVER THE 
 ISLANDS. MODELS INDICATE WHEN THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM REACHES 
 163W ON WEDNESDAY IT WILL THEN CHANGE DIRECTION MOVING SOUTHWARD
 ALONG A TROUGH AXIS OF A CUT-OFF LOW LOCATED FURTHER SOUTH.
 THEREFORE, THE TROUGH THAT IS NOW OVER THE ISLANDS WILL MEANDER
 OVER THE ISLANDS THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD.  
 
AS A RESULT...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS TONIGHT BECOMING
MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS TUESDAY. EAST WINDS
 5 TO 15 MPH BECOMING NORTHERLY TUESDAY.
&&
.LONG TERM...
.THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY...THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL FORM OVER 
 THE ISLANDS BY THURSDAY ALONG THE CUT-OFF LOW TROUGH AXIS. THE 
 LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL REMAIN OF THE ISLANDS FOR THE REST OF 
 THE PERIOD. THE RIDGE TO THE NORTH AND FURTHER SOUTH WILL ALSO
 REMAIN STATIONARY THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. 
  
AS A RESULT...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS. NORTHWEST
WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
.MARINE...
NO SIGNIFICANT SWELL
&&
.PPG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE
&&
$$
AKAPO/MALALA