Wind Advisory 28, NWS Fairbanks, AK

460 
WWAK72 PAFG 170803
NPWWCZ

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
1203 AM AKDT Sat Aug 17 2019

AKZ217-171400-
/O.EXP.PAFG.WI.Y.0028.000000T0000Z-190817T0800Z/
/O.NEW.PAFG.WI.Y.0030.190817T0803Z-190817T1400Z/
Upper Kobuk and Noatak Valleys-
Including Ambler, Shungnak, and Kobuk
1203 AM AKDT Sat Aug 17 2019

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKDT EARLY THIS MORNING...

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has issued a Wind
Advisory, which is in effect until 6 AM AKDT early this morning. 

* LOCATION...Over hills.

* WINDS...Northwest gusting to 40 mph.

* TIMING...Winds remain strong through early Saturday morning.  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Advisory means that strong winds are occurring or
expected. Travel may be difficult. Secure loose objects which may
be blown about by the wind.

&&

$$

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
322 PM AKDT Thu Aug 15 2019

.DISCUSSION...

Synopsis...
Heavy rain, wind, and potential flooding will be the primary
threats across northern Alaska over the next few days. An ongoing
heavy rain event will make its way east across the Interior today
into Friday afternoon, delivering significant rainfall to a good
portion of the state. Rivers already swollen from previous
rainfall events earlier in the week will begin to rise sharply
tonight into Friday and remain high into early next week.
Additionally, strong winds are expected to accompany a weather
front as it drops south from the northwest coast, through the
Brooks Range Friday morning, then into the Interior Friday
evening. Northerly Arctic air will move in behind this system,
bringing cooler temperatures to northern Alaska this weekend into
next week.

Aloft 500 mb...
Strong high pressure centered over Cold Bay extends northwest into
the Gulf of Anadyr. Longwave troughing consists of three distinct
height minima located over the western Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea,
and Banks Island. The low over the Chukchi Sea is expected to
become absorbed into the deeper system near Banks Island, and
swing southeast as a very potent shortwave, reaching the central
Interior Friday afternoon. This will allow high pressure to
effectively fill the void over the Chukchi Sea and build
northward into the Siberian Arctic this weekend. This will then
support direct northerly flow across Alaska, resulting in cooler,
more stable conditions this weekend into early next week.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
A strong low in the Chukchi Sea is expected to drift east and move
into the western Brooks Range near Cape Lisburne this evening
before continuing into the Interior Friday morning. This system
is drawing considerable moisture northward from the Pacific and is
expected to bring considerable rainfall to the western Brooks
Range, particularly along north facing slopes. Up to an inch and a
half of rainfall is possible through Friday morning primarily
along a line from Point Lay southeast to Howard Pass. Areas to the
north and east are expected to remain in the clear as a ridge of
Arctic high pressure builds in. Some lighter precipitation totals
are possible along north facing slopes of the central and eastern
Brooks Range as well. Cooling temperatures will drop freezing
levels to around 2000 feet by Friday evening, and some light snow
is possible across portions of the eastern Brooks Range, including
along Dalton Highway summits through Saturday morning.

West Coast and Western Interior...
Rain, heavy at times, is expected to continue into Friday morning.
Most locations can expect another quarter to a half inch of
additional rainfall through that time, with up to an additional
inch along the eastern Norton coast from Unalakleet to Koyuk and
the Nulato Hills, as well as the higher terrain of the western
Interior east of Galena. High pressure will begin to build along
the coast Friday as clearing skies and cooler temperatures arrive
Saturday. High water is expected to linger into the weekend for
many rivers and streams in the area.

Central and Eastern Interior...
Rain across the southern Interior south of Nenana to Salcha this
afternoon will gradually lift north into the evening and pick up
in intensity tonight. Heavy rain is expected Friday morning and
will taper off into the early afternoon. An additional 1 to 2
inches of rain is expected for much of the middle Tanana Valley
and Alaska Range. Around an additional quarter to half an inch is
expected as far north as Beaver to Bettles. See the HYDROLOGY
section for further details on river flooding. As rain begins to
taper off in the early afternoon, winds will begin to increase as
a weather front sweeps across the region from the northwest. Winds
gusting 25 to 35 mph are possible for most locations, with gusts
up to 40 mph or greater across higher terrain north and east of
Fairbanks and the Alaska Range. Winds Advisories are in effect
for this event.

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

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Wetting rain expected for all of northern Alaska except for the
Yukon Flats through Friday. Relative humidity will remain high for
all areas as temperatures cool this weekend. High winds are
expected with a weather front Friday across the Interior.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Many Interior rivers, including the Chena, Chatanika, Salcha, and
Goodpaster will all see a sharp rise in waters Friday as the next
round of rainfall moves through the area. Larger rivers including
the Tanana will see slower rises in water levels, and high water
will likely become a concern Saturday into Sunday. High confidence
in flooding on the Salcha, Goodpaster, and Upper Chena Rivers has
prompted Flood Warnings for those basins. Water is expected to
rise on the Chatanika River to near flood stage Friday, though
somewhat lesser rainfall amounts farther north will keep this area
as a Flood Advisory for now. The Flood Advisory extends west to
Tanana and south to the the foothills of the Alaska Range as
rising waters are expected across all of the middle and lower
Tanana watershed.

Additional rainfall may also be sufficient to produce small stream
flooding as well as rock and mudslides across the Alaska Range,
so the Flood Watches there will remain through late Friday.

Rivers across the North Slope draining the Brooks Range are
expected to continue rising through Friday and remain high into
the weekend. Rain is now tapering off over the eastern mountains,
but will flow into rivers and cause them to rise through Friday.
Another round of heavy rain is expected for the western Brooks
Range tonight. The Sag River and Colville River, in particular,
have risen quickly this morning and are expected to crest late this
afternoon. People along rivers draining the Brooks Range should
be prepared for rising river levels.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory for AKZ220-AKZ222-AKZ224.

Flood Warning for AKZ222-AKZ223-AKZ224
Flood Advisory for AKZ221-AKZ222-AKZ223

Flood Watch for AKZ225-AKZ226.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ225-
PKZ230-PKZ245.
&&

COWMAN AUG 19