Gale Warning 118, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
655 AM AKST Sat Nov 11 2017

.DISCUSSION...
A vigorous low over far east Russia moving east across the
Chukchi Sea and into the North Slope will bring a period of high
impact weather to most of northern Alaska through Monday. Very
strong onshore winds will result in minor coastal flooding along
the Chukchi Sea coast with high surf over the remainder of western
Alaska. Snow, strong winds, and blowing snow will impact the much
of western Alaska, the North Slope, and Interior Alaska. High
pressure building over the state early next week will result in
quiet weather along with much colder temperatures.

Models have come into better agreement on the exact track of the
low and deepen it to around 988 mb over the northern Chukchi Sea
this evening and then move the low center directly over Barrow
Sunday afternoon. The low then weakens over the eastern North
Slope through Tuesday. The associated frontal boundary will push
a significant amount of warm air north to the Chukchi Sea and
result in some mixed precipitation as far north as the Seward
Peninsula today. The warm air will be short lived as the low moves
east and a strong cold front sweeps into the west coast and the
Interior tonight and Sunday. This front will bring strong W-NW
winds to the west coast with the highest winds focused on Kotzebue
Sound and the NW Arctic coast. The winds combined with the long
fetch of ice free water will bring significant storm surge to NW
Alaska. Gusty winds and snow will accompany the front as it moves
across the Interior.

Heavy snow with storm totals from 8 to 12 inches are likely in
favorable upslope areas in the NW Brooks Range and Kobuk Valley,
and also along the north facing slopes of the Alaska Range.
Snowfall elsewhere from the Interior to the Brooks Range will be
in the 3 to 6 inch range, with some areas east of Fairbanks
possibly receiving around 8 inches through Monday. Winds will
shift to the west on Sunday as the cold front passes and gusty
winds from 25 to 40 mph across the Interior will result in poor
visibility in blowing snow in some locations.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Coastal Flood Warning for AKZ201-AKZ207-AKZ209-AKZ210.

High Surf Advisory for AKZ202-AKZ211-AKZ212-AKZ213-AKZ214.

Winter Storm Warning for AKZ201-AKZ205-AKZ206-AKZ207-AKZ208-
AKZ217-AKZ222-AKZ223-AKZ225.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ209-AKZ210-AKZ216-AKZ218-AKZ219-
AKZ220-AKZ221-AKZ224.

Winter Storm Watch for AKZ202-AKZ203.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ235-PKZ240.

Gale Warning for PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ215-PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ240.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ245.
&&

NOV 17