High Wind Watch 1, NWS Fairbanks, AK

431 
WWAK71 PAFG 081433
NPWNSB

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
533 AM AKST Wed Mar 8 2017

AKZ201-090000-
/O.UPG.PAFG.HW.A.0001.170309T0000Z-170310T1800Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.HW.W.0002.170308T1433Z-170310T1800Z/
Western Arctic Coast-
Including Wainwright, Atqasuk, Point Lay, and Cape Lisburne
533 AM AKST Wed Mar 8 2017

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM AKST FRIDAY...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a High Wind
Warning, which is in effect until 9 AM AKST Friday. The High Wind
Watch is no longer in effect. 

* LOCATION...Near Cape Lisburne

* WINDS...South 50 to 60 mph with gusts to 75 mph.

* TIMING...Winds will increase through today and become the
  strongest this evening and over night. 

* IMPACTS...Loose items will be blown around. Potential damage 
  to roofs of structures is possible. Blowing snow will impede 
  travel as well. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A High Wind Warning means hazardous high winds are occurring or
expected. Take precautions to protect life and prevent property
damage.

&&

$$

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
554 AM AKST Tue Mar 7 2017

.DISCUSSION...

Upper Air: A 478 dm low near 77N/91W will continue moving
northeast away from the forecast area. A ridge from northern
Russia to the Gulf of Anadyr to Unalaska will tilt to the
northwest coast of Alaska to the Arctic Ocean on Wednesday. Latest
model runs maintain the strength of this ridge which will deflect
an eastward moving short wave Wednesday night through Friday
further to the north than previously indicated by prior model
runs.

Surface: A 1018 mb low a few hundred miles east of Banks Island
will weaken and move east. High pressure over northern Alaska with
a 1037 mb center over the Bering Strait will move east and a 1046
mb center will be over the Yukon Flats Wednesday afternoon. The
high will weaken some along the Brooks Range and North Slope
Thursday and Friday as a short wave moves east. The high will
rebuild on Saturday but may flatten again on Sunday due to
another short wave. Low pressure will strengthen over Russia
Thursday and move to the north Chukchi Sea on Friday. A warm front
associated with the low will sweep across northern Alaska
Thursday through Friday.

North Slope: Winter weather advisory for zones 203 and 204 is
still in effect but blowing snow with low visibility has been
taken out of the forecast. Wind chills of 50 below are expected
through the morning. Conditions will improve in the afternoon as
winds decrease. Only flurries are expected through Wednesday as
high pressure builds over the area. A short wave moving east over
the Chukchi Sea will increase southwest winds over the northwest
coast on Wednesday then over to Prudhoe Bay by late Wednesday
night. Snow will move from west to east Thursday morning through
Friday. It looks like winds will be a little too low for blizzard
conditions but models are not in full agreement and this will have
to be monitored for changes. A winter weather advisory for
blowing snow will likely be necessary beginning early Thursday
morning over the northwest coast and extending to the Beaufort Sea
Coast on Thursday. Temperatures will be rising and wind chills
are expected moderate quickly. Snow accumulations will be in the 2
to 4 inch range. Though models have come to agreement on the
timing of this event, there appears the possibility that high
pressure may force the weather a little further north than
currently expected.

West Coast: Weather will be benign for most of the West Coast
zones through Tuesday night. Low pressure developing over Russia
will bring increasing south winds to the northern Bering Sea and
Chukchi Sea Tuesday night through Thursday and persisting into
Friday. Snow with the system will be generally be a dusting and
confined to mainly the northern portion of the Chukchi Sea coast.
High pressure will build in Friday and persist through the
weekend.

Interior: Temperatures begin a slow warm on Wednesday as 850 mb
temperatures rise. Warming picks up pace Thursday through Friday
as a much warmer airmass arrives. At Fairbanks, 850 mb
temperatures rise from -20 C on Wednesday to -8 C on Saturday
and -12 C on Sunday. These 850 mb temperatures support warming
aloft in the hills, though strong nighttime inversions will
continue in valleys with widespread 30's below and some 40's below
again tonight then 20's with some 30's below Wednesday night.
Temperatures will warm in valleys Thursday through Friday night
as warming aloft mixes down to valley level.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ203-AKZ204.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ210-PKZ225-PKZ245.
&&

da Mar 17