Gale Warning 8, NWS Fairbanks, AK

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1256 PM AST THU FEB 9 2006

.DISCUSSION...
MODELS ARE VERY SIMILAR TODAY. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS HANDLING THE
STRENGTH AND THE SPEED OF THE LOW MOVING NORTH TO NEAR KODIAK BY
THE END OF 60 HOURS AND THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE TOO RELEVANT AT
THIS TIME.

IN THE BIG SCHEME OF THINGS IT APPEARS THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT
ITEM IS THE WINDS OVER HIGHER TERRAIN IN THE INTERIOR AND ALONG
THE WEST COAST AND IN PARTICULAR SAINT LAWRENCE ISLAND. AS THE LOW
NEAR THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS MOVES UP INTO THE BERING SEA FRIDAY
NIGHT AND THE MODERATELY LARGE HIGH IN THE HIGH ARCTIC DROPS SOUTH
THE GRADIENT IS GOING TO TIGHTEN ALONG THE NORTHWEST ARCTIC COAST
ON FRIDAY. THIS SHOULD BEGIN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS STARTING ON FRIDAY.

THE REMAINDER OF NORTHERN ALASKA WILL REMAIN UNDER THE LARGE
IMMOBILE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE. THIS IS CAUSING A VAST AREA OF
SUBSIDENCE. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP NORTHERN ALASKA DRY AND
RELATIVELY WARM THROUGH THE NEXT 10 DAYS AT A BARE MINIMUM. THE
WEST COAST WILL LIKELY SEE BOUTS OF MOISTURE AS LOWS MOVE INTO THE
BERING SEA AND THEN GET CARRIED NORTHWARD ALONG THE RIDGE. THE
UPPER LEVEL RIDGE APPEARS TO REMAIN IN TACT FOR WELL BEYOND 240
HOURS. THE ARCTIC AIR WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTH OF THE ARCTIC
COAST AND REMAIN WELL NORTH OF THE ARCTIC COAST THROUGH 240 HOURS.

&&

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

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ214.

BLIZZARD WARNING FOR AKZ201 BEGINNING NOON FRIDAY.

BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY FOR AKZ213.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-
PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

CF FEB 06