Gale Warning 12, NWS Fairbanks, AK

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
342 PM AKST MON FEB 1 2010

.DISCUSSION...
COLD LOW ALOFT NEAR 77N/139W WILL BE CENTERED JUST WEST OF
NORTHERN BANKS ISLAND BY WED MORNING. THIS WILL RESULT IN A COLDER
AMS ACROSS THE CWA BY MID WEEK. SITUATION ON THE NORTH SLOPE IS
COMPLICATED BY WARM AIR COMING ACROSS THE POLE AND SWD TOWARD
ALASKA/CHUKOTKA. THIS IS EVIDENTLY NOT ATLANTIC AIR...IT APPEARS
TO BE A SLUG OF WARMER AIR THAT WAS OVER CENTRAL ASIA A COUPLE
DAYS AGO.

AT THE SURFACE...LOW NORTH OF BANKS OF ISLAND ROTATING
CYCLONICALLY...BUT TROF OR NEW LOW ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PARENT
LOW WILL TIGHTEN UP THE GRAD OVER THE EASTERN ARCTIC COAST. RIDGE
FROM 1050 HIGH OVER NORTH CENTRAL SIBERIA EXTENDS EWD INTO
NORTHWEST ALASKA.

NORTH SLOPE...WEST WINDS SHOULD PICK UP AGAIN EARLY TUESDAY AS
SURFACE LOW OVER THE WESTERN CANADIAN ARCTIC ROTATES CYCLONICALLY
SWWD. WE HAVE ISSUED A BLIZ WATCH FOR THIS...WITH THE WORST
WEATHER EXPECTED TO BE ZONE 204.

WEST WINDS...CONTINUED WIND CHILL ADVISORIES IN NORTHERN ZONES.
GENERAL INCREASE IN WINDS ACROSS THE REGION.

INTERIOR...GRADIENT INCREASE SOME NEXT 24 HOURS BUT EXCEPT THRU
BROOKS RANGE PASSES PROBABLY ONLY ENOUGH TO BREAK UP THE PATCHY
BUT WIDESPREAD STRATUS. AMS COOLING SMARTLY BUT NOTHING TOO EXTREME
FOR EARLY FEBRUARY.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
BLIZZARD WATCH FOR AKZ203-AKZ204.

WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ207-AKZ208-AKZ213-AKZ217.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ206-AKZ218.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ245.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

RT FEB 10