Brisk Wind Advisory 24, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
312 AM AKST Thu Jan 12 2017

.DISCUSSION...
Models in decent agreement through 60 hours. For the most part,
synoptic features are in step both with track and time.

Deepening upper level trough over Northern Alaska with deep pool
of cold air ready to reinforce already moderately cold air in
place over the area. Expect light snow ahead of the arctic front
as moisture gets lifted. A 504H low will set up over the Arctic
Slope by Thu afternoon.

As cold air settles in over Northern Alaska a couple of scenarios
will likely occur. The first is as the belly of the trough sits in
over southwestern Alaska, this will create southwesterly flow at
upper levels over the eastern half of the state while a moderately
deep surface low pushes north into the Gulf of Alaska. The
associated occluded front will move north and push northwest
across the southeastern portion of the Interior. This will provide
some overrunning snow over the area which could add up to a few
inches in many areas.

As the surface high remains locked in over Far East Russia and the
surface low moves into the Gulf of Alaska, this will create a
tight gradient over much of the West Coast from the Bering Strait
north to Point Hope. This will cause winds to increase smartly
over the West Coast areas to gale by Thursday evening.

Given the very cold temperatures at 850H in the neighborhood of
-24C it is very likely that snow squalls will develop over the
Bering Strait from Saint Lawrence Island north and as well to the
south of the Island.

The winds increasing late Thursday night or early Friday morning
in the Bering Strait will cause freezing spray to develop on
Saint Lawrence Island.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ204.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ210.

Gale Warning for PKZ210.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

JAN 17