Gale Warning 43, NWS Fairbanks, AK

068 
FZAK52 PAFG 121137
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
337 AM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

Northwestern Alaska Coastal Waters out 100 NM

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest one-
third of the combined wind-wave and swell height.

PKZ299-130230-
337 AM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
Strong pressure gradient over the northwest coast and Bering
Strait will persist into Fri morning, then slowly diminish north 
to south during the day Friday. A strong low will move into the 
western Bering Sea Sat morning with a weather front moving E
towards the west coast Sat. 

$$

PKZ200-130230-
Norton Sound-
337 AM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY
FRIDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N winds 20 kt. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.FRI...NE winds 20 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 20 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 20 kt. 
.MON...E winds 10 kt.  

$$

PKZ210-130230-
Dall Point to Wales-
337 AM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...N winds 35 kt. Seas 10 ft. Blowing snow. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Blowing snow. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.FRI...N winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Blowing snow. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...E winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Rain. Freezing spray. 
.SUN...E winds 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-130230-
Kotzebue Sound-
337 AM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

.TODAY...N winds 20 kt. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.FRI...NE winds 15 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN...E winds 20 kt. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ220-130230-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
337 AM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...

.TODAY...N winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.TONIGHT...N winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.FRI...N winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SAT...NE winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN...E winds 20 kt. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt.  

$$

Apr 18

080 
FZAK52 PAFG 122224
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
224 PM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

Northwestern Alaska Coastal Waters out 100 NM

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest one-
third of the combined wind-wave and swell height.

PKZ299-131500-
224 PM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
Strong pressure gradient over the northwest coast and Bering
Strait will persist into Friday morning, then slowly diminish 
north to south during the day Friday. A strong low will move into 
the western Bering Sea Sat morning with a weather front moving
east towards the west coast Saturday.

$$

PKZ200-131500-
Norton Sound-
224 PM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...

.TONIGHT...N winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.FRI...NE winds 20 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 25 kt. Snow.
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. 
.MON...E winds 10 kt. 
.TUE...E winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ210-131500-
Dall Point to Wales-
224 PM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...
...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY
AFTERNOON...

.TONIGHT...N winds 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. Blowing snow. Heavy
freezing spray. 
.FRI...N winds 30 kt. Seas 10 ft. Blowing snow. Heavy freezing
spray. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...E winds 30 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Snow and rain. Freezing
spray. 
.SUN...E winds 25 kt. Seas 11 ft. Snow. Freezing spray. 
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray.
.MON...E winds 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.TUE...E winds 25 kt. Seas 12 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-131500-
Kotzebue Sound-
224 PM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

.TONIGHT...NE winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. 
.FRI...NE winds 15 kt. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN...E winds 30 kt. 
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt. 
.TUE...E winds 15 kt.  

$$

PKZ220-131500-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
224 PM AKDT Thu Apr 12 2018

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...

.TONIGHT...N winds 40 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.FRI...N winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.FRI NIGHT...NE winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SAT...E winds 20 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN...E winds 30 kt. 
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. 
.MON...E winds 15 kt. 
.TUE...E winds 15 kt.  

$$

CCC Apr 18

361 
FZAK52 PAFG 131128
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
328 AM AKDT Fri Apr 13 2018

Northwestern Alaska Coastal Waters out 100 NM

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest one-
third of the combined wind-wave and swell height.

PKZ299-140300-
328 AM AKDT Fri Apr 13 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
Strong pressure gradient over the northwest coast and Bering
Strait will slowly diminish north to south during the day today. 
A strong low will move into the western Bering Sea Sat morning 
with a weather front moving east towards the west coast Sat.

$$

PKZ200-140300-
Norton Sound-
328 AM AKDT Fri Apr 13 2018

.TODAY...NE winds 15 kt. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 15 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 15 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. 
.SUN...E winds 30 kt. Rain.
.SUN NIGHT...SE winds 25 kt. 
.MON...E winds 10 kt. 
.TUE...E winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ210-140300-
Dall Point to Wales-
328 AM AKDT Fri Apr 13 2018

...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING...
...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING...

.TODAY...NE winds 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Heavy freezing spray. 
.SAT...E winds 35 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray. 
.SAT NIGHT...SE winds 30 kt. Seas 11 ft. Snow.
.SUN...SE winds 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. Snow and rain. 
.SUN NIGHT...S winds 30 kt. Seas 12 ft. 
.MON...SE winds 25 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.TUE...E winds 25 kt. Seas 11 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-140300-
Kotzebue Sound-
328 AM AKDT Fri Apr 13 2018

.TODAY...NE winds 15 kt. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 10 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 15 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 20 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.SUN...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN NIGHT...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.MON...E winds 20 kt. 
.TUE...E winds 20 kt.  

$$

PKZ220-140300-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
328 AM AKDT Fri Apr 13 2018

...BRISK WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON...

.TODAY...NE winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.TONIGHT...NE winds 20 kt. 
.SAT...E winds 15 kt. 
.SAT NIGHT...E winds 25 kt. Blowing snow. VSBY 1 NM or less. 
.SUN...E winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.SUN NIGHT...SE winds 30 kt. Blowing snow. 
.MON...SE winds 20 kt. 
.TUE...E winds 15 kt.  

$$

Apr 18

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
356 AM AKDT Wed Apr 11 2018

.DISCUSSION...
The main forecast concern will be winds along the West Coast and
parts of the western Interior and Brooks Range through the rest of
the week. Otherwise, quiet weather pattern will continue over the
next couple of days. Model solutions are fairly similar through
Saturday with the spread in GFS and ECMWF solutions increasing
after Saturday. and into the extended forecast period.

Aloft...at H500, a compact 528 dam low sandwiched between two
upper level ridges over eastern Siberia and over the eastern
Interior and western Canada. This low will remain in place over
the Brooks Range and weaken through tonight as a strong shortwave
and trough associated with a strong upper low in the high arctic
swings south towards the arctic coast. As the trough and shortwave
approach the coast, the shortwave will break off and move
southwest into the Chukchi Sea Thursday evening and then forming a
closed low over the Bering Strait by Friday morning. The trough
will move east grazing the arctic coast Friday. A second shortwave
will move south within this trough, pushing it further south into
the Interior Saturday. Upper level ridge will build north over
western Alaska this weekend and shift east into early next week.

Central and Eastern Interior...Quiet and beautiful weather will
continue through early Friday before a transition to cooler,
showery weather Friday and into the weekend. A colder H850
airmass associated with the upper level trough progged to move
south Thursday, will spread south over the Brooks Range Thursday,
reaching the Interior by Friday. The GFS and NAM are a bit more
aggressive bringing colder H850 temperatures southward into the
Interior, while the ECMWF is a bit warmer in comparison. This will
result in cooler temperatures with highs in the 30s and lows in
the mid teens to lower 20s Friday into the weekend. As the trough
shifts south into the interior, will see a chance of showers
develop ahead of the trough Thursday evening through Saturday.
Precipitation type will be a mix of snow and rain showers. Warmer
temperatures and drier conditions are likely as the upper level
trough builds east into the area early next week.

West Coast and Western Interior...The main issue will be
developing strong gusty northeast winds over the Saint Lawrence
Island north over Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea coast, and over
the Noatak and Kobuk Valleys late this evening and continuing
through late Friday. At the moment, it looks like the strongest
winds will be gusts to around 55 mph along the coast and to around
45 mph inland south of the western Brooks Range. Will be putting
out strong wind headlines for zones 207, 208, and 213 and a wind
advisory for zone 217. Debated the need for a winter weather
advisory for blowing snow, but with no recent new snow and recent
warm temperatures not confident in any blowing or drifting snow
will cause low visibilities. Cooler temperatures over the next
couple of days, then warmer late this weekend into next week as an
upper level ridge builds over the area.

North Slope and Brooks Range...Primary forecast concern is winds
and associated blowing snow. Ahead of the upper level trough,
light snow is expected to develop over the eastern half of the
North Slope and upslope areas in the north side of the eastern
Brooks Range. This will bring a few inches of fresh snow through
Thursday morning ahead of the strong north gap winds that will
develop Thursday afternoon. North gap winds with gusts to around
40 mph through Brooks Range passes will persist into Friday
morning before weakening. Fresh snow combined with strong north
gap winds will likely result in blowing snow with low
visibilities. May need to consider the need for a winter weather
advisory for blowing snow in the eastern Brooks Range gaps.
Cooling trend expected over the next couple of days with the
coldest day being Saturday afternoon with highs near zero along
the coast to the teens in the Brooks Range and lows on Sunday
morning zero to 10 below.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory for AKZ217-AKZ219.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ210.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ210.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240-
PKZ245.
&&

LTH APR 18

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1132 AM AKDT Wed Apr 11 2018

AKZ218-121215-
Southeastern Brooks Range-
Including Arctic Village, Wiseman, Coldfoot, Chandalar DOT Camp,
and Iniakuk Lake
1132 AM AKDT Wed Apr 11 2018

...GUSTY WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW ALONG THE DALTON HIGHWAY...

A weather system moving south across the Brooks Range Thursday
night into Friday is expected to cause gusty winds and may cause
blowing and drifting snow in passes. Winds will increase Thursday
night into Friday morning with gusts from the north up to 40 mph.
Blowing and drifting snow may reduce visibility at times in
Atigun Pass along the Dalton Highway.