Winter Storm Warning 2, NWS Fairbanks, AK

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
117 PM AKST THU JAN 21 2010

DISCUSSION...

MODELS GUIDANCE IN DECENT AGREEMENT. THERE IS SOME DIFFERENCE IN
THE MID RANGE IN THE ULTIMATE EVOLUTION OF THE UPPER AIR BUT
OVERALL GENERALLY DRY WITH NEAR OR SOMEWHAT ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS.
ACTIVE WX PATTERN AROUND NORTHERN ALASKA BUT LARGELY ONLY BRUSHING
THE AREA AS DEEP STORM MOVES FROM THE SEA OF OKHOTSK TODAY
NORTHWARD INTO WESTERN CHUKOTKA. ASSOCIATED OCCLUSION MOVING
RAPIDLY NWD BUT ONLY SLOWLY EASTWARD...AND PROBABLY NEVER QUITE
MAKING IT EAST OF 180. MEANWHILE...RIDGE ALOFT BUILDING FROM THE
NORTH PACIFIC PRESENTLY...TO BE A CUTOFF CENTER OVER THE NORTH
SLOPE BY SUN MORNING.

NORTH SLOPE...THE LAST BASTION OF COLD AIR IS LIKELY TO HOLD ON
FOR ANOTHER DAY OR SO BEFORE AMS REALLY STARTS TO
MODERATE...ESPECIALLY OVER WESTERN ZONES. OTHER THAN WIND ISSUES
AT LISBURNE...THIS EVENT LOOKS UNLIKELY TO PRODUCE WINTER STORM
LEVEL CONDITIONS.

WEST COAST...NORTH WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH STILL BLOWING IN SOME
AREAS COUPLED WITH REMAINING COLD AIR STILL PRODUCING WIND CHILL
CRITERIA IN ZONE 207 AND 210...WIND CHILL ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN
REISSUED FOR THESE AREAS. THIS WILL END LATE TONIGHT AS
APPROACHING SYSTEM SWINGS WINDS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH BRINGING IN
WARMER AIR. SNOW AND STRONG WIND EXPECTED ON FRIDAY FOR ZONE
213...WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED. FARTHER EAST AND NORTH
OF SAINT LAWRENCE ISLAND, THERE WILL ALSO BE PLENTY OF WIND BUT AT
THIS POINT SNOW LOOKS TO REMAIN WEST OF 167W.

INTERIOR...STRATUS COVERAGE REMAINS OVER THE INTERIOR. THIS WILL OF COURSE
DRAMATICALLY WEAKEN VALLEY BASED INVERSIONS. A MATURE STORM IN THE
EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA IS QUITE DISORGANIZED AND IT DOES NOT LOOK
TO SLING MUCH MOISTURE INTO THE SERN INTERIOR.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ207-AKZ210.

WINTER STORM WATCH FOR AKZ213.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ210 PKZ220 AND PKZ225.

JK JAN 10