Storm Warning 15, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
323 AM AKST Thu Dec 22 2022

.SYNOPSIS...
High pressure over the ALCAN border continues to dominate
bringing quiet but frigid weather to the area. This high pressure is
also allowing the Tanana Valley jet to ramp up in Delta Junction
with gusty southeast winds and wind chills well below negative 40F
where a Wind Chill Advisory currently resides. Aside from this,
areas of fog and ice fog has been around the interior reducing
visibilities for many locations. Strong easterly winds will
continue across the southern west coast and Saint Lawrence Island
through Saturday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Aloft...An omega block with the blocking high over
NW Alaska and the Chukchi Sea will persist through the weekend,
then break down next week as a series of strong short waves move
from the Canadian Archipelago southeast across Interior Alaska.
This means that cold and generally dry conditions will continue
into the weekend.

Surface...
High pressure remains dominant over the state as mainly clear
skies and well below normal cold air remain. A 1058mb high
pressure over the ALCAN border will be situated there and not move
much through Friday leaving much of the Central and Eastern
Interior weather the same. A secondary high pressure in the
Arctic is currently moving south through the North Slope and will
move into the Interior allowing an arctic boundary to set up in
southwestern Alaska.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
Winds will diminish some over the eastern north slope and low
visibility will improve this morning. Blizzard warning will likely
be cancelled this morning. Otherwise, high pressure will move in
once again with drier conditions expected across the area. Winds
will be slow to diminish in the Brooks Range as a strong pressure
gradient remains through the weekend.

West Coast and Western Interior...
Despite a very low chance at isolated snow showers south of Anvik
and Emmonak, the weather will be relatively quiet along the West
Coast and Western Interior. Strong easterly winds will continue
across the southern west coast, mainly along the coast and Saint
Lawrence Island through Saturday. Gusts to 55 mph expected in
these areas.

Central and Eastern Interior...
Very cold temperatures in the 30 below to 50 below range are
expected to continue in valley locations across the Eastern
Interior through this weekend. Windy locations such as Delta
Junction and Nenana have much warmer temperatures, but the wind
chills in those locations remain in the 20 below to 50 below
range. Other valley locations, such as Fairbanks, may see winds
develop Thursday night and Friday, which will cause temperatures
to rise in those locations as well, but winds chills will remain
20 to 50 below. Due to a strong inversion, hills above 1000 ft
have temperatures in the zero to 20 below range. A weather front
moving across the Interior Thursday night and Friday will cause
hill temperatures to fall to very cold values by Friday.

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

&&

Extended Days 4 Through 7...
Very cold temperatures will persist through the weekend with the
potential for light snow in the Eastern Interior Saturday evening
into Sunday.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ219.
     Wind Chill Advisory for AKZ203.
     Wind Chill Advisory for AKZ221-223.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ204.
PK...Gale Warning for PKZ200-201-210.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ210.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ220.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ225.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ230.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ235-240.
     Gale Warning for PKZ245.
&&