Gale Warning 117, NWS Fairbanks, AK

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
433 AM AST FRI DEC 16 2005

.DISCUSSION...
MODELS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT THIS MORNING. THE LOW NEAR
DILLINGHAM IS GOING TO TRAVEL UP TO NEAR KOTZEBUE BY ABOUT
SATURDAY AFTERNOON REGARDLESS WHICH MODEL YOU CHOOSE. THE PATH MAY
DIFFER A BIT BUT THE END OBJECTIVE REMAINS THE SAME.

THE STRONG WINDS IN MANY OF THE LOCALS ON THE WEST COAST AND SAINT
LAWRENCE ISLAND WILL BE TAPERING OFF THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT AND INTO
SATURDAY MORNING AS THE LOW MOVING UP FROM DILLINGHAM BEGINS TO
FILL AND THE HIGH OVER FAR EAST RUSSIA PULLS BACK SLIGHTLY. THIS
WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THAT AREA.

THE LOW IS WELL SUPPORTED AT UPPER LEVELS. THERE IS A HUGE
MOISTURE FEED SET UP FOR THIS TO CONTINUE TO GENERATE DECENT
SNOWFALL OVER MANY REGIONS ON THE WEST COAST AS WELL AS THE
SOUTHERN SLOPES OF THE BROOKS RANGE. AS THE LOW PULLS NORTHWARD
ALONG THE WEST COAST IT WILL CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE COLDER AIR
WITH THE WARMER MOIST AIR ALL THE WAY TO THE ARCTIC COAST. AS THE
LOW PULLS NORTHWARD IT WILL PUSH A LITTLE COLDER AIR BACK INTO THE
INTERIOR VERY BRIEFLY ON SATURDAY BEFORE THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE
CONTINUES TO SPREAD A REINFORCING SHOT OF WARMER AIR INTO MAINLAND
ALASKA.

THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE CONTINUES TO BE ORIENTED THROUGH MAINLAND
ALASKA TILL AT LEAST WEDNESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE DOMINATE
THE HIGH ARCTIC.

BY ABOUT THE END OF NEXT WEEK A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE PATTERN MAY
BE TAKING PLACE. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW IN THE HIGH ARCTIC WILL DROP
SOUTH INTO WESTERN CANADA AND WILL BE CARRYING MUCH COLDER AIR
BEHIND. AT THAT TIME HIGH PRESSURE IN THE ARCTIC WILL REGAIN
CONTROL AND CONTINUE TO DIG THE COLDER AIR SOUTHWARD.

IN THE SHORT TERM...EXPECT WARMER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO BE
THE ROUTINE.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY FOR AKZ223-AKZ225-AKZ226.

BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY FOR AKZ217.

WINTER STORM WARNING FOR AKZ207-AKZ213.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ206-AKZ208-AKZ210-AKZ211-AKZ214-
AKZ215-AKZ216-AKZ218-AKZ219.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.

STORM WARNING FOR PKZ210.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.
&&

CF DEC 05

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1109 AM AST FRI DEC 16 2005

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

0256 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST GAMBELL                 63.78N 171.70W
12/16/2005  70 MPH                              AK   AWOS

0655 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 17 SE RED DOG MINE      67.93N 162.30W
12/16/2005  61 MPH                              AK   OTHER FEDERAL

            AT KELLY RAWS SITE

0655 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST TIN CITY                65.55N 167.85W
12/16/2005  79 MPH                              AK   AWOS

&&

SHY