Gale Warning 12, NWS Fairbanks, AK

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
538 PM AKST THU JAN 16 2014

.DISCUSSION...
COMPLEX WEATHER PATTERN ACROSS THE CWA WITH SNOW...BLOWING
SNOW...FREEZING RAIN AND HIGH WINDS. EXITING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST
TONIGHT. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF ACROSS THE EASTERN INTERIOR AS THIS
LOW AND ITS FRONT MOVE NORTHEAST INTO THE NORTHERN YUKON.

A COLD AIRMASS REMAINS TRAPPED NORTH OF THE BROOKS RANGE WITH
TEMPERATURES IN THE 30 TO 40 BELOW RANGE INLAND AND 20S BELOW
ALONG THE COAST. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE HOISTED FOR BLOWING
SNOW AND LOW WIND CHILLS THROUGH THE BROOKS RANGE PASSES. EXPECT
CONDITIONS IN THE PASSES TO DETERIORATE TONIGHT AND TOMORROW AS A
POWERFUL LOW CURRENTLY SOUTH OF THE ALASKA PENINSULA RACES NORTHWARD
AND INCREASES THE GRADIENT ACROSS THE BROOKS RANGE AND INTERIOR AS
WELL AS THE WEST COAST AND BERING SEA.

FOCUS CENTERS ON AFORE MENTIONED LOW WHICH IS CURRENTLY ABOUT 968
MB AND IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 400 NM SOUTH OF ADAK. THE LOW IS
FORECAST TO DEEPEN TO AROUND 952 MB AS IT RACES NORTH AN CROSSES
THE AK PENINSULA FRIDAY MORNING AND REMAIN A STRONG LOW AT AROUND
954 MB AS IT MOVES TO JUST SOUTH OF NUNIVAK ISLAND FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

A VERY STRONG GRADIENT DEVELOPS ACROSS THE BERING SEA BETWEEN THE
1036 MB HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER SIBERIA AND THE 960 MB LOW IN
THE CENTRAL BERING SEA. STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE
BERING STRAIT AND SOUTH INTO THE CENTRAL BERING SEA. BLIZZARD
WARNING HOISTED FOR BERING STRAIT AND ST LAWRENCE ISLAND. WINDS
COULD GUST IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. WINTER STORM WARNING HOISTED FOR
ZONES 212...214...215 AND 216. VERY MOIST AIRMASS PUSHING INTO THE
YK DELTA WILL LEAD TO HEAVY SNOW. FREEZING RAIN WITH ICE
ACCUMULATIONS TO ONE QUARTER INCH SOUTH OF GALENA.

WINTER STORM WATCHES AS WELL AS BLIZZARD WATCHES HOISTED FOR
SEWARD PENINSULA AS WELL AS THE BROOKS RANGE AS WINDS AND SNOW
CRANK UP FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY. WIND
ADVISORIES HOISTED FOR THE ALASKA RANGE AS GRADIENT INCREASES
THROUGH PASSES.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
BLIZZARD WATCH FOR AKZ201-AKZ205-AKZ206-AKZ207-AKZ208-AKZ209-
AKZ217-AKZ218.

BLIZZARD WARNING FOR AKZ213.

WIND ADVISORY FOR AKZ223-AKZ225-AKZ226-AKZ227.

WINTER STORM WATCH FOR AKZ210-AKZ211.

WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ207-AKZ208.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ205-AKZ206-AKZ219-AKZ220-AKZ221-
AKZ222-AKZ224-AKZ226-AKZ227.

WINTER STORM WARNING FOR AKZ212-AKZ214-AKZ215-AKZ216.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.

STORM WARNING FOR PKZ210.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.
&&

CCC JAN 14