Blizzard Warning 20, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
102 PM AKST Sun Mar 2 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Active weather for the West Coast continues this week as current
falling snow is the predecessor for a long duration blizzard
beginning on Tuesday from St. Lawrence Island through the Bering
Strait. Point Hope also gets increasing winds and blowing snow but
this will begin late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning. From
Mountain Village to Shageluk, snow will transition to a mix of
rain and snow showers which continue through Tuesday night. A
glaze of ice is possible in the Villages along the Yukon River.
Periods of snow will persist along the coast, especially from the
Seward Peninsula northward through Tuesday, then towards St.
Lawrence Island Tuesday night through Thursday. Along the Arctic
Coast, easterly winds increase Tuesday night and continue through
Thursday with blizzard conditions possible from Nuiqsut east. The
Interior will be warm and dry through Wednesday.

&&

Key Weather Messages

Central and Eastern Interior...
- Warm and dry with high temperatures approaching 40 degrees from
  the White Mountains to the Alaska Range.

- Southerly gap winds in the Alaska range up to 55 mph in both
  Windy and Isabel Pass through 3 AM Monday.

- Tanana Valley Jet with winds gusts up to 35 mph through Tuesday
  afternoon, then up to 40 mph by Tuesday night.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
- Blowing snow persists in Point Lay today but will improve
  tonight into tomorrow.

- Easterly winds increase along the coast, especially from Nuiqsut
  east Tuesday night through Thursday with blizzard conditions
  possible. Blowing snow is possible in Utqiagvik but confidence
  is lower there.

- Winds increase in Point Hope late Tuesday night/Wednesday
  morning with blowing snow becoming more likely. Blizzard
  conditions are possible with this as well.

West Coast and Western Interior...

*Winter Weather Advisories for blowing snow and mixed
 precipitation issued for portions of the Yukon and Winter Storm
 Watches for blizzard conditions issued for St. Lawrence Island
 and the Bering Strait Coast.*

- Snow and blowing snow this afternoon/evening from Anvik
  south/west to the coast with visibility to 1/2 mile or less at
  times.

- Rain and snow showers expected tonight through Tuesday morning
  from Mountain Village to Shageluk with a glaze of ice possible.

- Snow progresses northwest to the Seward Peninsula and up to
  Kivalina this afternoon/evening with 2 to 5 inches expected
  through Monday afternoon. Highest amounts expected in the
  terrain.

- Blizzard conditions expected from St. Lawrence Island to the
  Bering Strait Coast beginning Tuesday morning and continuing
  through at least Thursday afternoon. Wind gusts up to 55 mph and
  whiteout conditions are likely.

Forecast Discussion and Analysis...
A warm pattern continues as a ridge sits over the Interior and
extends into Canada. The North Slope remains seasonably chilly
as they remain north of the ridge in the Interior and underneath a
ridge in the Arctic providing easterly flow. Temperatures will
warm above zero as we approach the middle of the week. Otherwise,
the next round of impactful weather has begun in Western Alaska.
A low in the SE Bering will be moving into SW Alaska and has
provided periods of snow and gusty winds resulting in blowing snow
for portions of the Yukon Delta and Middle Yukon Valley. Snow
will continue to move north this afternoon and evening and will be
heavy at times along the Coast. As this snow exits, it may end
briefly with light rain south/east of the Nulato Hills. Winter
Weather Advisories are issued through Tuesday for a glaze of ice
which is possible from Mountain Village to Shageluk and north to
Kaltag/Nulato. Something a little less certain is the chance for
mixed precipitation from Unalakleet to Selawik. Warm air will
continue to surge north on Monday, but there won't be an abundance
of moisture so any precipitation would be in the form of showers.
But there is still a slight chance for mixed precipitation
between those locations with no hazardous ice accumulations
expected. We will also be monitoring McGrath for mixed
precipitation and the potential for ice accumulations tonight
through Monday night, though most of the precipitation will remain
to their west. Otherwise, periods of rain continue south/east of
the Nulato Hills through Tuesday morning with ice accretion
possible on the coldest ground surfaces. Elsewhere along the West
Coast, periods of snow will persist through the middle of the week
with additional snow accumulations likely each day, especially
from St. Lawrence Island north/east. Colder air moves back into SW
Alaska on Wednesday as an upper low moves towards the Coast from
the Bering. The Interior will remain warm and dry through
Wednesday with breezy conditions in the Alaska Range Passes and
around Delta Junction.

Extended Forecast Days 4-7...
Blizzard conditions continue on Thursday and potentially into
Friday in the Bering Strait. Strong winds for the Eastern Beaufort
Sea Coast will bring the potential for blizzard conditions from
Nuiqsut east on Thursday. we will then be monitoring a front
moving into the Interior on Thursday and Friday. In the Interior,
we will be monitoring a front moving in from the Gulf of Alaska
on Thursday and Friday. This has the chance to bring snow for much
of the area. Confidence is low around Fairbanks, but higher in
the Northern Interior and higher terrain. Nonetheless, this does
not look too impactful.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Wind Advisory for AKZ849.
     Winter Storm Watch for AKZ820-821-827.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ825.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ826-830.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ829.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ801-805-806-812-816-817-850-853-854-
     858.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ802.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ804-852.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ813-859.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ851.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ856.
&&

Bianco