Wind Chill Advisory 57, NWS Fairbanks, AK

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
656 AM AKST FRI FEB 25 2011

.DISCUSSION...
THE LAST IN A SERIES OF BERING SEA STORMS IS NOW IN THE EAST
BEAUFORT SEA AND WEAKENING. THE WIND FLOW OVER THE EASTERN ARCTIC
COAST IN THE WAKE OF THIS SYSTEM IS STORM FORCE AND A SEVERE
BLIZZARD WILL CONTINUE AT KAKTOVIK/BARTER ISLAND THROUGH9UGH SATURDAY
NIGHT. THIS IS NOT A RECORD STORM FOR THAT AREA...BUT SOMEWHERE IN
THE TOP 5 PERCENT.

THE FRONT WITH THIS FINAL STORM NOW EXTENDS FROM THE MACKENZIE
DELTA DOWN TO KUSKOKWIM BAY. THERE ARE SNOW SHOWERS BEHIND THE
FRONT...SOME OF THESE SHOWERS ARE QUITE VIGOROUS WITH GUSTY WINDS
AND BRIEF PERIODS OF VERY LOW VISIBILITY.

AT 6 AM THIS MORNING...DEADHORSE WAS GUSTING TO 54 KNOTS...BARTER
ISLAND ONLY 43 KNOTS...NUIQSUT 45 KNOTS...WAINWRIGHT 43
KNOTS...UMIAT 47 KNOTS. THAT PEAK WIND AT UMIAT IS UNUSUALLY
STRONG. THE MORNING POLAR SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A LARGE DECK OF
LENTICULAR CLOUDS...ABOUT 120 MILES WIDE...FROM THE SEWARD
PENINSULA MOUNTAINS UP TO THE EASTERN BROOKS RANGE. ALTHOUGH THE
INFLUX OF ENERGY FROM THE SUBTROPICS TO THE LAST OF THIS SERIES OF
STORMS ENDED YESTERDAY...IT WILL BE A DAY OR TWO BEFORE THE
WEATHER SETTLES.

ALTHOUGH FAR FROM ENDED...THE SNOW AND WIND IN WESTERN ALASKA ARE
GRADUALLY DIMINISHING. THE HEAVY WEATHER IS NOW OVER THE ARCTIC
COAST AND THE EAST AND CENTRAL INTERIOR. THE LAST OF THE SNOW WILL
END OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN INTERIOR...ZONE 226...ON SATURDAY.

FOLLOWING THIS...THE GFS AND MEDIUM RANGE FORECAST MODELS PREDICT
A LARGE BLOCKING HIGH TO DEVELOP OVER THE EAST BERING SEA THIS
WEEKEND AND TO HOLD PLACE FOR AT LEAST A WEEK...TO MARCH 5 OR
LONGER. COOL NORTHERLY FLOW SHOULD FOLLOW OVER NEARLY ALL OF THE
REALM.

SO...AFTER TEMPERATURES FROM 20 TO 35 ABOVE...SOME 20 BELOW TO 40
BELOW READINGS ARE EXPECTED IN THE INTERIOR BY SUNDAY MORNING.
AFTER SATURDAY...PRECIPITATION IN NORTHERN ALASKA WILL BE SLIGHT
OR NIL...MORE LIKELY NIL. IT COULD BE AS LATE AS MID MARCH BEFORE
MUCH NEW SNOW COMES OUR WAY.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR AKZ205-AKZ207-AKZ208-AKZ209-AKZ210-
AKZ216-AKZ217-AKZ218-AKZ219-AKZ220-AKZ221-AKZ222.

BLIZZARD WARNING FOR AKZ201-AKZ202-AKZ203-AKZ204-AKZ206.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ223-AKZ224-AKZ225-AKZ226-AKZ227.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-
PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245.

STORM WARNING FOR PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

TF FEB 11