Blizzard Watch 1, NWS Fairbanks, AK

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
513 AM AKST FRI JAN 18 2013

.DISCUSSION...
COLD UPPER TROUGH OVER NORTHERN ALASKA WILL WEAKEN AS IT GETS
PUSHED INTO THE ARCTIC OCEAN BY A NORTHWARD MOVING RIDGE.
SOUTHERLY FLOW ALOFT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RIDGE WILL BRING
CLOUDS AND MILDER AIR TO MOST OF THE INTERIOR BY SUN AFTERNOON.
CURRENT MODELS COLLAPSE THE RIDGE MON NIGHT INTO TUE. THIS SHOULD
ALLOW COLDER AIR IN THE ARCTIC TO SEEP SLOWLY SOUTHWARD FROM TUE
INTO THE END OF THE WEEK.

AT THE SURFACE...AN EXPANSIVE 1050-1055 MB HIGH WILL REMAIN THE
DOMINANT FEATURE OVER THE ARCTIC OCEAN INTO THE WEEKEND. THE
SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE WEST COAST ZONES AND MARINE
AREAS WILL GRADUALLY TIGHTEN OVER THE WEEKEND AS A LOW NOW
WELL SOUTH OF THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS DEEPENS AND MOVES TO
THE CENTRAL ALEUTIANS BY SAT AFTERNOON. NE WINDS EXPECTED TO
INCREASE TO GALE WITH STORM GUSTS OVER PKZ210/AKZ213 AND
TO GALE OVER PKZ225 SAT NIGHT. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY OR
POSSIBLY A WINTER STORM WATCH MAY BE NEEDED FOR AKZ213 ON THIS
AFTERNOONS FORECAST. AREAS NEAR POINT HOPE WILL ALSO SEE GALE
FORCE WINDS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ206-AKZ218-AKZ220.

WIND CHILL WARNING FOR AKZ203-AKZ204.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ245.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.
&&

RF JAN 13