Brisk Wind Advisory 129, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
256 PM AKDT Sat Apr 14 2018

.DISCUSSION...
Strong spring storm impacting the west coast.

A strong spring storm will impact the west coast of Alaska this
evening and continuing through Sunday night. The storm is expected
to bring strong winds, snow and rain over the west coast as well
as high surf to the southern facing coasts of St Lawrence Island
and the Bering Strait Coast.

Aloft at 500 mb a ridge continues to build over the western and
central interior while a 505 DAM low over the central Bering Sea
deepens and moves north and east through Sunday. A strong
shortwave rotating around the parent upper level low in the
central Bering Sea will deepen and will support a triple point low
that will develop over the southeast Bering Sea tonight and will
move northwest and continue to strengthen as it moves into the
southwest portion of the Gulf of Anadyr Sunday afternoon. A
strong front plows onshore over the lower YK Delta and passes
over St Lawrence Island late tonight and Sunday morning and will
produce 60 mph wind gusts on St Lawrence Island and along the
Bering Strait Coast where a High Wind Warning has been issued.
Strong Wind Headlines have been issued for the lower YK Delta,
eastern Norton Sound and the Seward Peninsula where winds gusting
into the 40 to 55 mph range are expected.

Expect mostly rain over the lower YK Delta and a rain snow mix
along the Seward Peninsula. Warm temperatures and snow mixing with
rain will limit blowing snow and lower visibilities in these
areas. Colder temperatures over Kotzebue sound will produce
mostly snow and will produce reduced visibilities in blowing snow
in these areas. Winter Weather Advisories have been issues for
these areas. Strong Wind Headlines and Wind Advisories have been
issued for the western Brooks Range where the pressure gradient
between a 1040 mb high pressure system over the northern Yukon and
the devloping low in the northern Bering Sea will produce gusty
winds. Will need to monitor for stronger winds devloping along the
western portions of the North Slope as the Bering Sea low
continues north and west into eastern Siberia near the Gulf of
Anadyr.

Much more quiet weather pattern in the central and eastern
interior as well as the North Slope which are under the influence
of a 1040 mb high pressure system over the northern Yukon. Mostly
sunny skies are found in most areas of the central and eastern
interior as well as the North Slope. A tight gradient will develop
between the 1040 mb high over the Yukon and a low pressure trough
developing over the west coast Sunday night and Monday as the
Bering Sea low departs to the northwest. Southeast winds will
increase especially over summits in the central interior and a
Tanana Valley Jet is expected to develop Sunday night along the
northern foothills of the Alaska Range to the west of Delta
Junction. Winds will increase Sunday night but are expected to
remain below advisory level for the Tanana Valley Jet as well as
over the central interior highway summits. Recent warm
temperatures have glazed the snow pack and since there has been
no recent snowfall there will be very limited potential for
blowing snow over the central interior highway summits despite
gusty winds.

The snowpack continues to ripen even with the recent cool down
of the last couple of days over the central and eastern interior.
The snow melt slowed yesterday and will likely be sluggish again
today over the central interior with the snowpack only loosing an
inch yesterday at the Weather Forecast Office in Fairbanks.
Warmer temperatures and mostly clear skies will likely increase
runoff rates due to snow melt again next week.

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

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...None.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory for Akz210.

High Surf Advisory for AKZ213.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ207-AKZ209.

High Wind Warning for AKZ213.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ200.

Gale Warning for PKZ210.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225.
&&

CCC APR 18