Wind Chill Warning 6, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
345 PM AKST Mon Feb 7 2022

.SYNOPSIS...
A mostly cold pattern setup across northern Alaska is resulting in
wind chill and blowing snow issues this afternoon. The exception
area is the eastern Interior, where light snow continues but will
dissipate going into tomorrow. Otherwise, a mostly quiet week
ahead in regards to hazardous weather.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
The deep Arctic trough will be the main feature of the upper level
pattern going through most of the week. This feature will dig to
over Nunivak Island by Tuesday morning as a 488 dm low. Ridging
begins to build across the Interior by Tuesday morning as well,
creating a southerly flow pattern across the Alaska Range through
Wednesday. This pattern will result in chinook conditions north of
the Alaska Range, with southerly gap winds developing and warming
temperatures going through the middle of the week.

The Arctic trough will begin to lift to the northeast across the
Interior late Wednesday night and eventually into Canada by
Thursday night. Models begin to differ in position and intensity
of this trough as early as Wednesday night, but consensus
evolution points to the Arctic trough exiting the state by Friday.

At the surface, general strong easterly flow developing across the
Interior and northerly flow through the Bering Strait today is
expected to persist through Tuesday. A strong surface low moving
north through the Gulf of Alaska will send a front north of the
Alaska Range Tuesday afternoon, increasing chances for snow. The
chinook pattern will limit snow chances in Fairbanks. General low
pressure with light snow across the Interior is expected to
persist through the middle of the week.

Central and Eastern Interior...
Snow moving to the northeast is beginning to clear out of the
Fairbanks area this afternoon. Snow will continue to dissipate
across the eastern Interior through tonight. Strong easterly flow
will strengthen this evening, leading to blowing snow and cold
wind chills along highway summits across the Interior. Skies will
remain mostly cloudy into the middle of the week, keeping
temperatures slightly below normal through Tuesday. A weather
front will move north of the Alaska Range on Tuesday, bringing
light snow to the Interior for areas north of the chinook
influence with 1 to 2 inches of snow through Tuesday night.
Southerly flow developing Tuesday night will result in slightly
warmer conditions across the Interior going into late week.
Southerly gap winds are expected to develop as early as Tuesday
afternoon and last into Wednesday evening with gusts to 55 mph.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
Extreme wind chills 60 to 80 below zero with winds 10 to 15 mph
across the eastern Arctic Coast continue this afternoon, but winds
expected to slowly dissipate tonight. However, bitter cold
temperatures expected to remain in the 40s to 50s below zero for
low temperatures through the middle of the week. Easterly winds
expected to develop Wednesday, with the potential for some blowing
snow issues due to leeside troughing across the eastern Arctic
Coast.

West Coast and Western Interior...
Strong northeasterly flow through the Bering Strait with cold
wind chills along the West Coast continue this afternoon.
Conditions are expected to improve as winds begin to dissipate
tomorrow morning. Blowing snow issues are additional concerns
through the Bering Strait and for portions of the Chukchi Sea
Coast. Temperatures expected to remain well below normal as a cold
core airmass remains entrenched across the West Coast through the
middle of the week.

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

Extended Forecast Days 4 to 7...
The upper level pattern has the persistent Arctic trough exiting
the northeastern part of the state by Friday, with some version of
ridging extending north in the Interior. Models then diverge on
Saturday on the interplay between another Arctic trough digging
across the western part of the state and ridging holding on across
the Interior. Thus, the outlook looks generally quiet with the
lack of winter storm potential and temperatures remaining near
climatological normal across most of the state going into next
week.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Chill Advisory for AKZ208-AKZ210-AKZ212.

Wind Chill Warning for AKZ203-AKZ204-AKZ206-AKZ218.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ207-AKZ213-AKZ219-AKZ220-AKZ221.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ225.

Gale Warning for PKZ210-PKZ220.

&&

FEB 22