Small Craft Advisory 9, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
427 AM AKST Thu Mar 8 2018

.DISCUSSION...

Aloft...Models in good agreement through the weekend. A stacked
494 dam low is now over the Gulf of Anadyr and will move to
Nunivak Island by Friday evening. A 502 dam low will develop over
the Aleutians and move over Cook Inlet Thursday night, then merge
with the low over Kodiak Island. A shortwave will move over the
Gulf of Alaska Coast Thursday night and over the Interior by
Friday afternoon. Weak southerly flow will remain over the
Interior through the weekend.

Surface...A 973 mb low SW of Saint Lawrence Island will move Se
to Nunivak Island by Thu evening at 996 mb then merge with a 964
mb low in the Gulf of Alaska Friday morning. A broad area of low
pressure will result over the area. High pressure will push E from
a 1038 mb center over Siberia creating a tight pressure gradient
over the Chukchi Sea, Bering Strait, and Eastern Bering Sea with
strong winds developing and persisting through Fri. A 987 mb low
over northwest Alaska will weaken in place through Thursday.
Surface winds will remain northeasterly to easterly through the
weekend.

West Coast and Western Interior...A weakening weather front is
pushing through Ambler...Galena and Mcgrath this morning. Winds
and snow have been reported across the west coast with local
blizzard conditions. Snow will taper off to scattered snow showers
for the Seward Penn and the Bering Strait. Snow will continue
through the morning for the upslope areas of zones 208 and 217.
Winds will weaken slightly today then restrengthen along the west
coast and becoming northerly this evening into Friday. Northerly
winds gusting 30 to 40 mph will cause areas of blowing and
drifting snow through Friday evening. Winter wx advisory is in
effect for zone 213 through Friday evening for winds and low
visibility.

Arctic Coast and Brooks Range...Winds from the northeast and east
over the area as broad area of low pressure develops over the
state with the low in the Gulf of Alaska. Winds speeds generally
10 to 20 mph near the coast through Thursday evening. Gusts
to 25 mph in the Brooks range passes this morning.

Interior...Approaching front will bring snow to Tanana to
Minchumina this morning but downsloping flow aloft will inhibit
precip from reaching Central and Eastern Interior today. Alaska
range passes reporting gusty winds in passes this morning. Gusts
ranging from 50 to 60 mph are possible. Wind advisories have been
issued for zones 225 and 226. A shortwave moving up from the Gulf
of Alaska will bring a chance of snow for the southern interior on
Friday. Highs in the upper 20s to low 30s will continue for the
Interior through the weekend.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory for AKZ225-AKZ226.

Winter Storm Warning for AKZ208-AKZ209.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ207-AKZ213-AKZ216-AKZ217.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ210.

Gale Warning for PKZ210.

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

JK MAR 18