Gale Warning 35, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
256 PM AKST Thu Feb 24 2022

.SYNOPSIS...Temperatures expected to remain well above
climatological normal across most of the forecast area going into
the weekend. Alaska Range winds expected to gust into the 50 to 60
mph range through tomorrow, while strong easterly winds
developing across the Arctic Coast will cause ground blizzards going
into Saturday. Winds and blowing snow will also ramp up on
summits over the northern Interior Friday into Saturday morning.

.DISCUSSION...
Deep troughing over the Bering Sea and ridging over the eastern
portion of state will continue to be the general pattern going
through the weekend. However, the longwave troughing in the Bering
Sea will slowly weaken the ridge as it retreats eastward across
the the eastern portions of Alaska by Friday as a strong shortwave
trough moves north into the Bristol Bay region. This trough will
retrograde back to the central Bering Sea by Saturday, but the
longwave trough will encompass the West Coast. General southerly
flow will persist across northern Alaska going into the later
portions of the weekend. Models are mostly inline with each other
through the short term, using a blend for PoPs.

An occluded weather front stretching across the West Coast through
St. Lawrence Island this morning will push to the north, chances
for precipitation over the west coast will begin to wane tonight
out west. The next strong weather system will push north into
Bristol Bay on Friday morning, bringing more chances for mixed
precipitation for the Yukon Delta as the front pushes north.
Models are indicating the front reaching north of the Alaska
Range, creating the potential for snow for areas of the Interior
Friday night. This general low pressure pattern will result in
increasing easterly flow across the Interior beginning on Friday
and lasting into the weekend.

Central and Eastern Interior...
Winds will continue in the Alaska range through tonight. Gusts to
60 mph possible. Easterly winds expected to increase across
higher terrain of the Interior on Friday as pressure lowers across
the Interior going into Saturday. Winter weather advisories have
been issued for blowing snow and low visibility on summits. Temperatures
remaining well above normal going into the weekend, with highs
primarily in the 20s to 30s before a cooling trend beginning on
Saturday.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
Blowing snow issues due to easterly winds gusting to 40 mph have
begun on the western Arctic Coast with quarter mile visibilities.
These conditions are expected to spread further east across the
Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea Coasts over the next couple of days,
resulting in widespread blowing snow and ground blizzards with
gusts ranging from 45 to 55 mph from Point Lay to Kaktovik through
Saturday morning. Southerly winds through the Brooks Range
expected to increase beginning tomorrow, with gusts 40 to 50 mph
Friday night through Saturday. Temperatures are currently near
normal, with a weather front pushing in from the south ushering in
warmer temperatures to around five degrees above normal going
into the weekend.

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

Extended Forecast Days 4 to 7...
Deep troughing through the Bering Sea and some form of ridging
over the state will continue to be the pattern going into next
week based on latest guidance. This would favor the seasonably
warm temperatures to continue as well, with relatively limited
precipitation coverage during this time period.

&&

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

Blizzard Warning for AKZ201-AKZ202-AKZ203-AKZ204.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ219-AKZ220-AKZ221.

Gale Warning for PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245-PKZ500.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ210-PKZ215-
PKZ220-PKZ225-PKZ230-PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

FEB 22