Wind Advisory 47, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
342 PM AKST Fri Nov 29 2019

.DISCUSSION...
The most impactful weather across northern Alaska continues to be
snow across the central Interior and Alaska Range. Light snow
continuing in those areas through tomorrow afternoon ahead of a
decaying weather front that will spread accumulating snow across
the West Coast and the Interior. Strong winds associated with this
front as it moves over St. Lawrence Island will bring near
blizzard conditions through tomorrow morning.

The upper level pattern consists of a ridge situated over the
Alaskan panhandle and a shortwave trough just to the east of
Norton Sound. A ridge off the northwest Arctic coast stretches
northwest over Wrangel Island, while a deep low is located in the
north central Bering Sea. The shortwave trough will move across
central Alaska tonight ahead of a strong shortwave trough rotating
around the deep upper level low across the West Coast and into the
Interior by tomorrow night. High pressure off the northwest Arctic
Coast will slide to the northeast and remain over the Chukchi Sea
through the weekend. The strong upper level low over the Bering
Sea will remain in that general region going into next week. So,
the upper level pattern will continue to be active with general
troughing across the state through early next week.

Three surface low pressures are located in the Beaufort Sea, Gulf
of Alaska, and the north central Bering Sea. The feature of note
is in the Bering Sea, as this strong low pressure will swing a
front over St. Lawrence Island and portions of the West Coast
tonight. This front will bring strong winds before quickly
dissipating by tomorrow morning. As this front lifts to the
north, high pressure will build over the Chukchi and Beaufort
Seas that will increase the pressure gradient and increase the
easterly winds across the North Slope through Sunday. Behind this
front, low pressure will rapidly develop along the Aleutians on
Saturday and then quickly arrive in Bristol Bay by Sunday morning.
This feature will need to be monitored, as models differ in
intensity and movement as the low pressure tracks east into the
Gulf of Alaska early next week. The track of this feature will
impact various locations in the western and central Interior for
chances for snow as well as timing of precipitation developing in
the eastern Interior.

Central and Eastern Interior...
Snow has redeveloped over the central Interior this afternoon.
Snow dissipated over Fairbanks this morning, but has continued
north and west. Snow expected to continue north of Fairbanks, with
a chance of snow and light freezing rain from Fairbanks south.
Snow accumulations of 3-7 inches through tomorrow morning in a
line from the Dalton Highway in zone 220 to Tanana to McGrath. A
weather front moving in from the south will enhance lift and
spread snow back into Fairbanks tomorrow afternoon and up into the
southern Brooks Range. Chances for snow will decrease after
tomorrow. Temperatures are expected to trend down into next week
as flow weakens and colder air moves in from the north.

West Coast and Western Interior...
A strong weather front will move over St. Lawrence Island and the
West Coast tonight. Strong winds with blowing snow and 2-4 inches
of snow are expected as the front moves through. This front will
quickly dissipate but will continue to move north as the upper
level trough moves over central Alaska tomorrow. Upslope
enhancements across the southern Brooks Range will result in snow
with accumulations ranging from 2-5 inches. As snow dissipates by
Sunday, quiet conditions are expected going into next week.
Temperatures will increase tomorrow before decreasing going into
the middle of next week.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
Snow showers across the northern Arctic Coast, primarily at
Utqiagvik will dissipate this evening as a trough moves east. High
pressure will develop north of the Arctic Coast tonight, with
winds becoming easterly. These east winds will increase as a
weather front moves across the Interior tomorrow. Temperatures
will decrease slightly over the weekend but will still remain well
above average going into next week.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Coastal Flood Warning for AKZ202.

Winter Storm Warning for AKZ221.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ213-AKZ214-AKZ219-AKZ220-AKZ222-
AKZ225-AKZ226-AKZ227.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225-
PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ235.

Small Craft Advisory for PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.

Gale Warning for PKZ210-PKZ225-PKZ230.
&&

NOV 19