Brisk Wind Advisory 5, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
542 AM AKST Tue Jan 2 2018

.SYNOPSIS...
Aloft...
A strong long wave ridge stretching from California north over
Eastern Alaska into the Beaufort Sea with a deep trough over the
Bering Sea and NW Pacific will persist through the weekend and
into next week. A series of strong short wave troughs will move
north over Alaska through this pattern keeping temperatures
generally above normal with periods of Chinook winds along the
Alaska Range, and periods of snow in the Interior.

Surface...
High pressure north of the Arctic Coast will persist through
tonight then weaken.

A 999 mb low just south of Barter Island will persist through this
afternoon and then weaken. This is causing strong NE winds over
the eastern Arctic Coast which will decrease this afternoon and
evening as the low weakens. Low visibility in blowing snow will
improve this afternoon/evening as well.

A 975 mb low near King Salmon with an occluded front from the low
to Tanana to Eagle, will move by 3pm Tue as a 989 mb low near
Anvik with an occluded front from Anvik to Barter Island, by 3am
Wed as a 990 mb low near Selawik with an occluded front from
Selawik to Barrow to Barter Island then a trailing front from
Barter Island to McGrath, by 3pm Wed as a 1003 mb low near Howard
Pass with a front from Howard pass to north of Barrow to Old Crow
to Denali, by 3am Thu as a 1007 mb low 300 nm north of Barter
island with a front from the low to Inuvik to Isabell Pass, and
the front then moving east of the Alcan Border Thu. Expect snow
along the front and low track with 2-4 inches in the western
Interior and 1-2 inches in the Eastern Interior. Expect east winds
25kt over the northern Interior just ahead of the front along
with blowing snow today. Could see freezing rain along the Alaska
Range today as well.

Strong southerly chinook winds over the Alaska Range today will
prevent precip in the chinook shadow over the Tanana Valley today.
Expect south winds gusting to 80 mph near Alaska Range Passes
today, east winds g55 in zone 223, and south winds g50 in zone 224
from Dot Lake to Tanacross. Winds all areas should decrease this
evening.

An arctic cold front stretching south from the low in Western
Alaska will move over the Western Interior Wed and then across
the Eastern Interior Thu. This will bring colder temperatures and
light snow across the Interior with it.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Models initialize well and show similar solutions through 4pm
Thu. There are significant differences on location and strength of
surface lows in the Bering Sea Wed and Thu, but differences over
Northern Alaska are minimal through Thu.

&&

Coastal Hazards for days 3 and 4...
Easterly Gales Fri and Sat over the West Coast of Alaska will
have a short fetch limiting surf to moderate.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory for AKZ223-AKZ227.

High Wind Warning for AKZ224-AKZ225-AKZ226.

Blizzard Warning for AKZ204.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ201-AKZ203-AKZ219-AKZ220-AKZ221.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ210.

Gale Warning for PKZ240-PKZ245.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ210.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ235.
&&

JB JAN 18