Gale Warning 53, NWS Fairbanks, AK

726 
FZAK52 PAFG 261218
CWFWCZ

Coastal Waters Forecast for Northwest Alaska
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
418 AM AKDT Sat May 26 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.

PKZ299-270215-
418 AM AKDT Sat May 26 2018

.SYNOPSIS FOR NORTHWEST COAST...
A weak ridge of high pressure will build north over the southern 
Bering Sea and West Coast while weak low pressure systems persist
over Kotzebue and Norton Sounds and the Bering Strait into Sunday.

$$

PKZ200-270215-
Norton Sound-
418 AM AKDT Sat May 26 2018

.TODAY...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.TONIGHT...W winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.SUN...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON...W winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...N winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.TUE...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.WED...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.  

$$

PKZ210-270215-
Dall Point to Wales-
418 AM AKDT Sat May 26 2018

.TODAY...NW winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TONIGHT...NW winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.SUN...W winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...W winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...E winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.TUE...E winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. 
.WED...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.  

$$

PKZ215-270215-
Kotzebue Sound-
418 AM AKDT Sat May 26 2018

.TODAY...W winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.TONIGHT...W winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.SUN...W winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON...W winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...NW winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.TUE...E winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.WED...SE winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft.  

$$

PKZ220-270215-
Wales to Cape Thompson-
418 AM AKDT Sat May 26 2018

.TODAY...W winds 15 kt. Seas 4 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TONIGHT...W winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.SUN...W winds 10 kt. Seas 3 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...SW winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON...S winds 5 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...NE winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.TUE...E winds 10 kt. Seas 2 ft. 
.WED...SE winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.  

$$

CCC May 18

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1240 PM AKDT Fri May 25 2018

.DISCUSSION...
Aloft...At 500 hpa...Weak upper level troughing will persist over
much of the State through Sunday. A 528 dam low south of Kodiak
will continue to track to the east through the weekend. Weak high
pressure will build over the Bering strait Friday into Saturday.
Also upper level ridging will persist over the Arctic through the
weekend. There is some model divergence by next week but weak
ridging may build over the Interior while the west coast remains
unsettled. Near normal temperatures expected through this weekend.

Surface...High pressure over the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas
will drift south and east toward the McKenzie Delta through
Sunday. Weak low pressure will persist over Point Hope, Kotzebue
and Norton Sounds as well as the Interior of Alaska. A weather
front has stalled over the northern interior and will continue to
weaken but will be the focus for scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms Friday into Saturday.

Central and Eastern Interior...Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms will move slightly northward from Marshall to Galena
to Bettles down to Eagle on Friday. A better chance of scattered
showers and thunderstorms on Saturday for the central Interior. A
drying trend Sunday into Tuesday for the Central and Eastern
Interior. A chance of showers and thunderstorms will persist over
the western Interior on Sunday and Monday. Rivers remain high,
see below for details. Winds generally light. Near normal
temperatures expected through this weekend.

West Coast and Western Interior...a high pressure ridge
building north and east our of the Bering Sea will produce a
stable atmosphere however sea stratus will likely push inland at
times along the coast and will produce periods of low ceilings
and fog. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will
continue in the western interior through Sunday.

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

FIRE WEATHER...
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will move slightly
northward from Marshall to Galena to Bettles down to Eagle on
Friday. A better chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms on
Saturday for the central Interior. A drying trend sunday into
Tuesday. Minimum Relative Humidity values are expected to remain
above 30 percent, with excellent overnight recovery in most
locations. For the latest Fire Weather information go to
www.weather.gov/arh/fire.

HYDROLOGY...
Upper Chena River will continues to run high through the weekend
and early next week. A special weather statement is still in
effect through Sunday for high water levels on rivers and creeks.
A weather front has stalled over the northern interior and will
continue to weaken but will be the focus for scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms Friday into Saturday. Precipitable water
continues to run well above normal levels for late May however
coverage of the showers and thunderstorms will be less today and
Saturday over the central and eastern interior. Slow moving
showers and storms may still produce locally heavy rain into
Saturday. Additional amounts of rain for the Eastern Interior
around 0.25 inches with locally higher amounts in areas with heavy
downpours. Lesser amounts of rain expected over the Middle Tanana
Valley Friday and Saturday. For the latest breakup and flooding
information go to www.weather.gov/aprfc.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ230.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ225-PKZ230.
&&

JK MAY 18

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1247 PM AKDT Fri May 25 2018

AKZ222>224-226-272100-
Middle Tanana Valley-Deltana and Tanana Flats-
Upper Tanana Valley and the Fortymile Country-
Eastern Alaska Range-
Including Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright, Eielson AFB, Ester,
North Pole, Moose Creek, Two Rivers, Fox, Chatanika,
Chena Hot Springs, Sourdough Camp, Salcha, Delta Junction,
Fort Greely, Harding/Birch Lake, Dry Creek, Dot Lake, Healy Lake,
Tok, Tanacross, Eagle, Tetlin, Northway, Alcan, Chicken,
Boundary, Mentasta Lake, Black Rapids, Donnelly Dome,
Trims DOT Camp, Eagle Trail, and Mineral Lake
1247 PM AKDT Fri May 25 2018

...High Water on Interior Rivers through Memorial Day Weekend...

Scattered to numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms will
continue Friday and Saturday for the Central and Eastern
Interior. Additional amounts of rain of 0.25 inches with locally
higher amounts in areas with heavy downpours. River levels
remain high for the Chena, Salcha, Goodpaster, Fortymile,
Johnson, and Robertson River Basins. Rivers will continue
to run high for the next several days.

Increased debris such as logs and sticks moving downriver has
already been noted and local bank erosion is possible through the
weekend. Most gravel bars are already covered with water and some
river access points have water over them, or may become impassable
due to the high water. People on or near Interior rivers should
be prepared for high water, use extreme caution if near the
rivers, and move items away from the river as they continue to
rise.

For the latest weather forecasts go to www.weather.gov/fairbanks
and for the latest river information go to www.weather.gov/aprfc.

Special Weather Statement...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
206 PM AKDT Fri May 25 2018

AKZ222>224-226-272100-
Middle Tanana Valley-Deltana and Tanana Flats-
Upper Tanana Valley and the Fortymile Country-
Eastern Alaska Range-
Including Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright, Eielson AFB, Ester,
North Pole, Moose Creek, Two Rivers, Fox, Chatanika,
Chena Hot Springs, Sourdough Camp, Salcha, Delta Junction,
Fort Greely, Harding/Birch Lake, Dry Creek, Dot Lake, Healy Lake,
Tok, Tanacross, Eagle, Tetlin, Northway, Alcan, Chicken,
Boundary, Mentasta Lake, Black Rapids, Donnelly Dome,
Trims DOT Camp, Eagle Trail, and Mineral Lake
206 PM AKDT Fri May 25 2018

...High Water on Interior Rivers through Memorial Day Weekend...

Scattered to numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms will
continue Friday and Saturday for the Central and Eastern
Interior. Additional amounts of rain of 0.25 inches with locally
higher amounts in areas with heavy downpours. River levels
remain high for the Chena, Salcha, Goodpaster, Fortymile,
Johnson, and Robertson River Basins. Rivers will continue
to run high for the next several days.

Increased debris such as logs and sticks moving downriver has
already been noted and local bank erosion is possible through the
weekend. Most gravel bars are already covered with water and some
river access points have water over them, or may become impassable
due to the high water. People on or near Interior rivers should
be prepared for high water, use extreme caution if near the
rivers, and move items away from the river as they continue to
rise. Also the high water is limiting clearance for boats under
the bridges along the Chena.

For the latest weather forecasts go to www.weather.gov/fairbanks
and for the latest river information go to www.weather.gov/aprfc.