Gale Warning 79, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
124 PM AKST Wed Feb 21 2024

.SYNOPSIS...

Slightly cooler over the Interior on Wed and Thursday. A
brief shot of snow for Fairbanks this morning brought about
one inch of snow to the Middle Tanana Valley. Another
shot expected on Thursday with light accumulations expected. Snow
and blowing snow for the west coast continues as well as Blizzard
conditions will continue for the Arctic slope through Wednesday
afternoon, as a series of lows move up the coast. Snow continues
in the Nulato Hills. Turning colder for the weekend over the
Interior.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Analysis and Model Discussion...

Upper level troughing persists over the west coast through the
week. Strong jet stream shifts to the south over the Aleutians
and Gulf of ALaska Friday and into the weekend. Another low
moves into the Bering on Sunday. Strong pressure gradient over
the north slope will produce blizzard conditions through
Wednesday. A shortwave moved through the Interior this morning
and strong southerly winds have weakened today but expected
to pick up again tonight. Another front will push through the
Interior on Thursday evening into Friday. Southerly flow
will once again weaken by Friday. 850 mb temps will slowly
drop over the weekend into next week.

Central and Eastern Interior...

Chinook flow will set up over the Interior tonight and persist
into Thursday. Expecting winds to gust up to 60 mph near Delta
Junction and along the Parks highway near Healy, and up to 70 mph
for the Richardson Highway north of Trims Camp. After frontal
passage, slightly cooler today, with high temps in the mid to
upper 20s and similar temps on Thursday and Friday. Another
shot of snow expected Thursday evening into Friday, with
light amounts of accumulations expected. Colder over the weekend.

North Slope and Brooks Range...

High pressure exists over the Chukchi Sea and low pressure over
northwest Alaska, producing a tight pressure gradient over the
northwest coast and across the north slope. This will keep strong
northeasterly winds over the area, promoting areas of blizzard
conditions through Wednesday afternoon.

West Coast and Western Interior...

A low will bring snow and blowing snow to Saint Lawrence Island
The Seward Penn and the Yukon Delta coast on Wednesday. Winter
storm Warnings have been issued. Winter Storm Warnings remain in
effect for the inland areas along the Nulato Hills. Low pressure
and Snow showers will linger over the west coast Thursday and
Friday.

Extended Forecast For Days 4 Through 7...

Upper level troughing persists over the west coast through the
week. Strong jet stream shifts to the south over the Aleutians
and Gulf of ALaska Friday and into the weekend. Another low
moves into the Bering on Sunday. Long range models continue
to push the coldest 850 mb air later into the week next week, so
a gradual cooling expected over the Interior over the weekend
and into early next week.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Blizzard Warning for AKZ801-802.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ816-819-828.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ820-821.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ822-830.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ824.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ825>827.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ829.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ804-805.
     Wind Advisory for AKZ837.
     Wind Advisory for AKZ847.
     High Wind Warning for AKZ849.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ801-802.
     Gale Warning for PKZ803-805-815-817-851>853-860-861.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ804.
     Gale Warning for PKZ806-854.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ807-808-855.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ809.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ810.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ811.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ812>814-859.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ816-850.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ856.
     Gale Warning for PKZ857-858.
&&