Storm Warning 10, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
134 PM AKST Sun Jan 14 2024

.SYNOPSIS...Another strong storm developing to the western Bering
Sea today will move to the Northern Bering Sea tonight, then into
the Central Chukchi Sea on Mon and then north of Utqiagvik on
Tue. This storm will bring heavy snow, and blizzard conditions to
most of Western Alaska starting late tonight or early Monday, and
could bring snow and blizzard conditions to the North Slope Mon PM
into Tue. Snow over the Interior today and more snow expected on
Tuesday for the Interior.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Analysis and Forecast Discussion...
An upper low will move northward over the Bering through Sunday.
A piece of energy will move across the Interior bringing some snow
on Sunday. A strong shortwave will push across the west coast on
Monday and move inland on Tuesday over the Interior.

North Slope and Brooks Range...Blizzards winding down this
afternoon but winds will ramp up over the western north slope
near Point Hope and Monday. Expecting Blizzard conditions and
snow for that area on Monday. Frontal boundary will push
through the north slope on MOnday and switch the winds to westerly
for much of the week.

West Coast and Western Interior...
Another strong storm developing to the western Bering Sea today
will move to the Northern Bering Sea tonight, then into the
Central Chukchi Sea on Mon and then north of Utqiagvik on Tue.
This storm will bring heavy snow, and blizzard conditions to
most of Western Alaska starting late tonight or early Monday, and
could bring snow and blizzard conditions to the North Slope Mon PM
into Tue. Winter storm warnings are in effect for much of the west
coast.

Central and Eastern
Interior...A shortwave will move into thee Interior with light
amounts of accumulation around 2 to 3 inches for most areas.
Temperatures generally look to remain cooler than normal along the
Eastern Interior through the weekend and closer to near normal
for the Central Interior. Highs warming up Monday and Tuesday as
more clouds and precip expected. Another shortwave will bring in
moisture from the southwest and expecting snow accumulations
around 3 to 5 inches for the Central Interior with higher amounts
over the hills east of Fairbanks.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...A strong storm developing
to the western Bering Sea today will move to the Northern Bering
Sea tonight, then into the Central Chukchi Sea on Monday, and then
north of Utqiagvik on Tuesday. This storm will bring south winds
of 50 to 70 mph to the West Coast of Alaska on Monday. This could
water levels along the coast to rise 3 to 5 feet from Shishmaref
to Kivalina. This will likely cause water to flow on top of the
sea ice and river ice near the coast, and could cause minor
flooding of low lying areas near the coast such as around the
lagoon at Kotzebue.

Flooding of infrastructure is not expected but people should move
valuables to higher ground. People should be alert for water
pushing on top of snow machine trails that run over ice or along
the coast.

Extended Forecast for Days 4 Through 7...High pressure progged
to build into the Aleutians and Bering Sea next week, but will be
dampened as an upper level shortwave rides its periphery and
pushes some moisture into the Interior Tuesday and Wednesday.
High pressure rebuilds over the west coast and unsettled weather
and winds possible for the north slope and Brooks range later in
the week.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Blizzard Warning for AKZ801.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ813>819-828-829.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ815>817.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ821>824.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ825-826.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ827.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ834.
PK...Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ801.
     Gale Warning for PKZ801-802-816-817-851-853-855.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ802.
     Gale Warning for PKZ803>805-852.
     Gale Warning for PKZ806.
     Gale Warning for PKZ807-854.
     Gale Warning for PKZ808.
     Gale Warning for PKZ809-858.
     Gale Warning for PKZ810-856.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ810.
     Gale Warning for PKZ811-857.
     Gale Warning for PKZ812.
     Gale Warning for PKZ813.
     Gale Warning for PKZ814.
     Storm Warning for PKZ815-861.
     Gale Warning for PKZ850.
     Gale Warning for PKZ859.
     Gale Warning for PKZ860.
&&