Brisk Wind Advisory 143, NWS Fairbanks, AK

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
603 AM AKDT THU MAR 31 2016

.DISCUSSION...

SMOOTH TOPPED UPPER LEVEL RIDGE CURRENTLY EXTENDS FROM DALL POINT
TO NEAR YAKUTAT AND SOUTHEASTWARD. THE RIDGE WILL SHARPEN A BIT
AND DRIFT NORTHWARD THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...RIDGE AXIS AT 4 AM FRI
WILL EXTEND FROM THE SEWARD PENINSULA TO NORTHWAY AND
SOUTHEASTWARD. AS THE RIDGE SHARPENS SOME AND DRIFT NORTH...THE
MOISTURE STREAM WILL SHIFT SLOWLY NORTHWARD AND GRADUALLY
DIMINISH. THE RIDGE WILL WEAKEN SUBSTANTIALLY BY LATE FRIDAY NIGHT
AS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL SHORT WAVE TROUGHS CUTS INTO THE BACK SIDE
OF THE RIDGE. MOISTURE IS CONTINUING TO FLOW AROUND THE TOP OF
THE RIDGE...WITH SNOW DEVELOPING OVER THE YUKON DELTA AND
CONTINUING OVER THE MIDDLE AND LOWER YUKON VALLEYS...UPPER
KUSKOKWIM VALLEY...CENTRAL INTERIOR...HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN THE
MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY. SNOW WILL SPREAD NORTHWARD INTO THE UPPER
YUKON VALLEY AND UPPER KOYUKUK VALLEYS TODAY AND CONTINUE INTO
FRIDAY.

ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY...
UPPER KOYUKUK VALLEY...3 TO 6 INCHES...LARGEST AMOUNTS SOUTH OF
 BETTLES.
UPPER YUKON VALLEY...3 TO 5 INCHES.
CENTRAL INTERIOR...1 TO 2 INCHES NORTH AND WEST OF MANLEY TODAY.
MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY...1 TO 2 INCHES OVER HIGHER TERRAIN TODAY.
YUKON DELTA...4 TO 8 INCHES.
LOWER YUKON VALLEY...UP TO 3 INCHES TODAY AND 1 INCH FRIDAY.
MIDDLE YUKON VALLEY...UP TO 3 INCHES TODAY AND 1 TO 2 INCHES
 FRIDAY.

PERIODS OF SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED OVER MUCH OF THE WESTERN INTERIOR
AND WEST COAST THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...WITH A CHANCE OF
PRECIPITATION OVER MUCH OF THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN INTERIOR
AS SEVERAL SHORT WAVE TROUGHS MOVE NORTHWARD. ADDITIONAL SNOW
AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED BE BELOW ADVISORY OR WARNING LEVELS.

STRONG NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL DEVELOP THIS MORNING
OVER THE NORTHERN BERING SEA...ST LAWRENCE ISLAND...BERING STRAIT
COAST AS A SURFACE TROUGH OVER SOUTHWEST ALASKA MOVES WESTWARD
AND TIGHTENS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT. STRONG WINDS ARE ALREADY
OCCURRING OVER OUTER COASTAL AREAS OF THE YUKON DELTA AND WILL
CONTINUE TODAY BEFORE DIMINISHING BEHIND THE TROUGH PASSAGE.
LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED IN CHANNELED AREAS OF
THE SEWARD PENINSULA TODAY AND TONIGHT.

COLD TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE OVER THE ARCTIC SLOPE THROUGH
TONIGHT...WITH SOME SLOW MODERATION BEGINNING FRIDAY OR FRIDAY
NIGHT AS HIGHER CLOUD COVER SLOWLY WORKS ITS WAY NORTHWARD
AND BRINGS TEMPERATURES UP SOME. WIND CHILL TO 40 TO 45 BELOW
ALONG THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN ARCTIC COAST SHOULD MODERATE
TONIGHT AS WINDS DECREASE.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

WINTER STORM WARNING FOR AKZ214-AKZ215-AKZ216.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ220-AKZ221-AKZ222.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ200-PKZ210.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ220.
&&

RF MAR 16