Gale Warning 143, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
456 AM AKST Mon Dec 14 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Strong east winds across northern Alaska continuing this morning,
causing continued travel difficulties across the Interior. Winds
will slowly weaken across the Interior tonight, resulting in
decreased impacts by tomorrow morning. Light snow has moved into
the Western Interior from Kaltag east to Central this morning and
expected to continue into Tuesday morning. Colder temperatures
will filter into the Interior from the east going into the end of
the week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Aloft, troughing continues to encompass northern Alaska this
morning, while a strong area of ridging holds on in the Arctic.
Progressing into Tuesday, a closed low in the Bering will move
over the West Coast, while a strong closed low over the Canadian
Arctic moves west into the Northwest Territories. Advancing into
Wednesday, troughing along the Bering Sea continues, with a
portion of the strong upper low over Canada reaching the Alaskan
border. The Arctic will continue to be dominated by a strong area
of ridging through the short term.

At the surface, a strong high pressure in the Arctic will persist
in the same area of the strong ridge aloft through the short term.
This surface high will meander north of 80N by the middle of the
week. In the Bering Sea, a broad area of low pressure will persist
through the short term as well. For this morning, a strong
pressure gradient persists across northern Alaska as a result of
these features, leading to strong east winds across the Interior,
West Coast and North Slope. These winds are expected to subside
going into tomorrow, before strengthening again as a stronger
surface low pressure get situated in the southern Bering Sea by
Wednesday night.

A weather front has set up across the Interior this morning,
resulting in increasing coverage of snow from Kaltag east to
Central. This front will remain stationary across the Interior
through tonight. This front will slowly dissipate over the next
couple of days, with most of northern Alaska being precipitation
free by Thursday.

Central and Eastern Interior...
Strong east winds have resulted in a number of Winter Weather
Advisories and a Winter Storm Warning in effect for today. Due to
increasing snow coverage, more extensive visibility issues are
expected with these strong winds. Most areas will receive 1 to 2
inches of snow, with localized areas receiving up to 7 inches
through tonight. As the snow dissipates, colder temperatures will
begin to move into the Interior and be well below normal by
Wednesday night.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
The Western Arctic Coast continues to have blowing snow issues
this morning. These issues are beginning to impact areas further
east across the Arctic Coast as winds will increase today. Strong
east winds will persist through the middle of the week across the
North Slope. Temperatures will be trending down through the short
term and become near normal by Thursday.

West Coast and Western Interior...
Strong winds continue for most areas, with High Wind Warnings in
effect for Eastern Norton Sound and Point Hope this morning. Snow
has begun to fall in the Western Interior and areas around Norton
Sound. Total snow amounts of 3 to 5 inches are possible, with
higher amounts in the Nulato Hills up to 7 inches. Temperatures
will remain near normal through the middle of the week.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ201-AKZ216-AKZ217-AKZ218-AKZ220-
AKZ221-AKZ222.

Winter Storm Warning for AKZ219.

High Wind Warning for AKZ207-AKZ212.

Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225.

Gale Warning for PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ215-PKZ235-PKZ240.
&&

DEC 20