Gale Warning 5, NWS Fairbanks, AK

215 
FZAK52 PAFG 132253
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
153 PM AKST TUE JAN 13 2015

NORTHWESTERN ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-
THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ299-141500-
153 PM AKST TUE JAN 13 2015

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE JUST N OF THE ARCTIC COAST WILL PERSIST
THROUGH TUE NIGHT. THE RIDGE WILL BEGIN TO MOVE N ON WED...BUT
WILL REMAIN OVER THE NORTHERN BEAUFORT SEA THROUGH THE DAY. A 978
MB LOW SE OF SAINT PAUL ISLAND WILL MOVE W...BUT A BROAD AREA OF
LOW PRESSURE WILL PERSIST OVER THE SOUTHEAST BERING SEA AND OVER
THE GULF OF ALASKA...WITH ANOTHER SURFACE LOW MOVING FROM THE GULF
OF ALASKA INTO BRISTOL BAY THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ200-141500-
NORTON SOUND-
153 PM AKST TUE JAN 13 2015

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING...

.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.WED...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.THU...NE WINDS 25 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.FRI...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.SUN...S WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-141500-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
153 PM AKST TUE JAN 13 2015

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 7 FT...EXCEPT 10 FT SOUTHWEST OF
SAINT LAWRENCE ISLAND. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 5 FT...EXCEPT 7 FT SOUTHWEST OF SAINT
LAWRENCE ISLAND. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.WED NIGHT...NE WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU NIGHT...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...N WINDS 35 KT. SEAS 10 FT. 
.SUN...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT.  

$$

PKZ215-141500-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
153 PM AKST TUE JAN 13 2015

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...E WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU...W WINDS 10 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...W WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...NW WINDS 10 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 5 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 10 KT. 
.SUN...E WINDS 10 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-141500-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
153 PM AKST TUE JAN 13 2015

.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.WED NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.SUN...NE WINDS 30 KT.  

$$

DJH/SDB JAN 15

511 
FZAK52 PAFG 141420
CWFWCZ

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR NORTHWEST ALASKA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
520 AM AKST WED JAN 14 2015

NORTHWESTERN ALASKA COASTAL WATERS OUT 100 NM

WIND FORECASTS REFLECT THE PREDOMINANT SPEED AND DIRECTION
EXPECTED. SEA FORECASTS REPRESENT THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGHEST ONE-
THIRD OF THE COMBINED WIND WAVE AND SWELL HEIGHT.

PKZ299-150230-
520 AM AKST WED JAN 14 2015

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE JUST N OF THE ARCTIC COAST WILL PERSIST
THROUGH TUE NIGHT. THE RIDGE WILL BEGIN TO MOVE N ON WED...BUT
WILL REMAIN OVER THE NORTHERN BEAUFORT SEA THROUGH THE DAY. A 977 MB
LOW W OF SAINT PAUL ISLAND WILL MOVE W...BUT A BROAD AREA OF LOW
PRESSURE WILL PERSIST OVER THE SOUTHEAST BERING SEA AND OVER THE
GULF OF ALASKA...WITH ANOTHER SURFACE LOW MOVING FROM THE GULF OF
ALASKA INTO BRISTOL BAY THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

$$

PKZ200-150230-
NORTON SOUND-
520 AM AKST WED JAN 14 2015

.TODAY...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE WINDS 15 KT. 
.SAT...SE WINDS 10 KT. 
.SUN...S WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ210-150230-
DALL POINT TO WALES-
520 AM AKST WED JAN 14 2015

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.TONIGHT...NE WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.THU...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 8 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY.
.THU NIGHT...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI...N WINDS 40 KT. SEAS 10 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. SEAS 9 FT. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY. 
.SAT...N WINDS 25 KT. SEAS 8 FT. 
.SUN...S WINDS 20 KT. SEAS 6 FT.  

$$

PKZ215-150230-
KOTZEBUE SOUND-
520 AM AKST WED JAN 14 2015

.TODAY...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.TONIGHT...E WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 15 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...W WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI...W WINDS 15 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...E WINDS 10 KT. 
.SAT...E WINDS 10 KT. 
.SUN...SE WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

PKZ220-150230-
WALES TO CAPE THOMPSON-
520 AM AKST WED JAN 14 2015

.TODAY...NE WINDS 20 KT. 
.TONIGHT...N WINDS 20 KT. 
.THU...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.THU NIGHT...N WINDS 40 KT. 
.FRI...N WINDS 35 KT. 
.FRI NIGHT...N WINDS 30 KT. 
.SAT...N WINDS 25 KT. 
.SUN...SE WINDS 15 KT.  

$$

RM/RF JAN 15

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
300 AM AKST TUE JAN 13 2015

.DISCUSSION...

UPPER AIR...
AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE EXTENDS FROM EASTERN SIBERIA TO THE
PANHANDLE AND SOUTHEASTWARD. THE RIDGE WILL SHIFT SLIGHTLY
NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THU. THE PORTION OF THE RIDGE OVER
EASTERN SIBERIA AND WESTERN ALASKA WILL GIVE WAY TO A DEEPENING
TROUGH THU NIGHT...WITH A CLOSED UPPER LOW DEVELOPING OVER THE
CHUKOTSK PENINSULA AND THE CHUKCHI SEA BY FRI AFTERNOON. THE
EASTERN PORTION OF THE UPPER RIDGE WILL PERSIST INTO THE
WEEKEND...WITH SOUTHERLY FLOW ALOFT CONTINUING OVER MOST OF
THE NORTHERN ALASKA MAINLAND. 850 MB TEMPERATURES OVER AREAS
SOUTH OF THE BROOKS RANGE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABOVE SEASONAL
NORMALS. IN THE SHORT TERM...SHORT WAVE TROUGH NOW SOUTH OF THE
NORTH GULF COAST WILL MOVE NORTHWARD ACROSS THE MAINLAND TODAY
WHILE GRADUALLY DAMPENING OUT.

SURFACE...
A STRONG OCCLUDED FRONT IS NOW MOVING ONSHORE ALONG THE NORTH
GULF COAST. THE FRONT WILL MOVE NORTHWARD INTO THE SOUTHERN
INTERIOR TODAY AND THEN STALL OUT TONIGHT WHILE GRADUALLY
WEAKENING. TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF AROUND 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF ZONES 224...WITH 1 TO 2 INCHES
OVER MOST OF THE SOUTHERN AREAS. IN ZONE 222...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF
2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...WITH THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS EXPECTED TO
BE IN AREAS TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF FAIRBANKS. IN ZONE
221...ABOUT 1 INCH IS EXPECTED...MAYBE UP TO 2 INCHES IN THE
EXTREME EASTERN PARTS. AROUND AN INCH OF SNOW IS EXPECTED
IN THE EASTERN ALASKA RANGE.

CURRENT MODELS ARE INDICATING EAST WINDS 40-50 KT AT 850 AND 900
MB ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF ZONE 219. WILL ISSUE A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW VISIBILITY OVER
HIGHER SUMMITS. THESE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO
WED...WITH WINDS DIMINISHING SLOWLY WED NIGHT AND THU. INDIAN
MOUNTAIN HAS REPORTED SOME WIND GUSTS EXCEEDING 40 MPH OVERNIGHT.

BRISK EAST WINDS WITH LOCALLY POOR VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW
AND WIND CHILL AS LOW AS 50 BELOW ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER
THE WESTERN ARCTIC COAST FROM POINT LAY WEST TODAY AND CONTINUE
THROUGH WED. SOME DECREASE IN THE WINDS IS EXPECTED WED NIGHT AS
THE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER THE BEAUFORT SEAS WEAKENS AND RECEDES
NORTH...REDUCING THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE WESTERN ARCTIC
COAST.

IN THE EXTENDED OUTLOOK PERIOD THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK...THE
OPERATIONAL GFS/ECMWF AND THE GEFS/ECMWF ENSEMBLE MEANS ARE IN
BETTER AGREEMENT OVER THE MAINLAND...WITH A MEAN UPPER RIDGE
EXTENDING FROM THE CENTRAL ARCTIC COAST SOUTHEASTWARD INTO
CANADA...AND PREDOMINANTLY SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT OVER THE
MAINLAND. INTERIOR TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO BE ABOVE
NORMAL. THE COLDEST AIRMASS IS EXPECTED TO BE HELD OFF FARTHER TO
THE WEST...OVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN BERING SEA AND EASTERN
SIBERIA.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ201-AKZ219-AKZ224.

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ210.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ210.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ225-PKZ230.

&&

RF JAN 15