Gale Warning 38, NWS Fairbanks, AK

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
525 AM AKST WED MAR 6 2013

.DISCUSSION...
A WEAK FRONTAL WAVE NEAR THE BERING STRAIT WILL CONTINUE TO
TRACK NORTHWESTWARD TODAY. THE WEATHER FRONT EXTENDING FROM
THE CHUKCHI SEA SOUTHEASTWARD IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN NEARLY
STATIONARY AND CONTINUE TO WEAKEN TODAY. IN ZONE 201...BRISK
EAST WINDS FROM POINT LAY EAST ARE EXPECTED TO DECREASE
TO 15 TO 25 MPH THIS AFTERNOON. A MODERATE PRESSURE GRADIENT
BETWEEN STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE ARCTIC OCEAN AND AN
AREA OF WEAK LOW PRESSURE OVER THE WESTERN ARCTIC OCEAN WILL
CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT...MEANING A CONTINUATION OF BRISK
EAST WINDS THROUGH TONIGHT IN ZONES 202 203 AND 204...WITH
BLOWING SNOW REDUCING VISIBILITY.

ANOTHER PERIOD OF SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN ZONES 214 AND
215 WEDNESDAY NIGHT...SPREADING NORTHWARD ACROSS THE WEST COAST
AND WESTERN INTERIOR THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT AS A DEVELOPING LOW
MOVES NORTHWARD...ARRIVING IN THE EASTERN ALEUTIANS BY THURSDAY
AFTERNOON. TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 7 INCHES ARE EXPECTED
IN ZONE 214...3 TO 5 INCHES IN ZONE 215...AND AROUND 4 INCHES
IN ZONE 211. LESSER AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED ELSEWHERE ALONG THE
WEST COAST AND IN THE WESTERN INTERIOR.

STRONG SOUTH WINDS WILL DEVELOP IN AND NEAR ALASKA RANGE
PASSES LATE TONIGHT A LEESIDE DEVELOPS NORTH OF THE
ALASKA RANGE...REINFORCED BY A SURGE OF STRONG SOUTHERLY
WINDS ALOFT. WINDS ALOFT ACROSS THE ALASKA RANGE BELOW 700
MB ARE EXPECTED TO MAX OUT AT AROUND 50-60 KT. MAXIMUM
GUSTS TO 75 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE MOST WIND PRONE SPOTS.

EXTENDED GFS AND ECMWF PROGS INDICATE BUILDING OF A STRONG
UPPER HIGH OR RIDGE OVER THE BERING SEA BY SUNDAY...WITH A
COLDER NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT DEVELOPING OVER THE CENTRAL AND
EASTERN PARTS OF THE FORECAST AREA. SUBSTANTIALLY COLDER AIRMASS
TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE BY WEDNESDAY...WITH 850 MB TEMPERATURES
FALLING TO -20C OR COLDER.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
HIGH WIND WATCH FOR AKZ225-AKZ226-AKZ227.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ201-AKZ203.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ245.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ215-PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240.
&&

RF MAR 13