Gale Warning 99, NWS Fairbanks, AK

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1206 PM AKST MON DEC 20 2010

.DISCUSSION...
CURRENT GFS/NAM/EUROPEAN/CANADIAN MODEL RUNS AGREE
WELL OUT THROUGH THU AFTERNOON. UPPER RIDGE WILL BUILD
AND MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS THE BERING TUE INTO WED...
BUT THEN BE SQUASHED DOWN BY A VIGOROUS SHORT WAVE
AS IT MOVES INTO THE WESTERN ALASKA INTERIOR. ASSOCIATED
SURFACE SYSTEM PROGGED TO TRACK NORTHEASTWARD THEN EASTWARD
ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN SIBERIA...ARRIVING IN THE
CHUKOTKA/BERING STRAIT AREA BY THU MORNING. SNOW FROM
THIS SYSTEM WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE BERING STRAIT/WEST
COAST AREAS LATE WED NIGHT THROUGH THU NIGHT. THERE
IS LITTLE CHANCE OF ANY SNOW SPREADING FARTHER TO THE
EAST WITH THE SYSTEM DIVING SOUTHWARD AND DISSIPATING
RAPIDLY AFTER IT REACHES THE ALASKA WEST COAST.

BEHIND THE SURFACE SYSTEM...STRONG 1055-1060 MB HIGH
PRESSURE DOME DEVELOPING OVER EASTERN RUSSIA WITH STRONG
PRESSURE GRADIENTS AND COLD ADVECTION DEVELOPING OVER THE
BERING STRAIT/NORTHWEST ALASKA/BROOKS RANGE. BRISK WINDS
AND LOW WIND CHILL WILL LIKELY BE ISSUES IN THESE AREAS
BEGINNING AROUND FRI.

COLD AIR AIR MASS WILL LIKELY BE ENTRENCHED OVER
THE INTERIOR AND ARCTIC REGIONS FOR THE FORSEEABLE
FUTURE. INCOMING SHORT WAVE WILL DEEPEN THE LONG
WAVE TROUGH POSITION OVER THE ALASKA MAINLAND
AND BRING A REINFORCING SHOT OF COLD AIR.

IN THE VERY SHORT TERM...GOES IR IMAGING SHOWING HIGH
CLOUDS NOW SPREADING WESTWARD INTO NORTHEAST ALASKA...THIS
CLOUD COVER WILL SPREAD FARTHER WESTWARD INTO THE EASTERN
INTERIOR AND BROOKS RANGE THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT
RESULTING IN SOME MITIGATION OF THE TEMPERATURES OVER THE
EASTERN INTERIOR.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR PKZ210.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

RF DEC 10