Gale Warning 48, NWS Fairbanks, AK

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
151 PM AKST Sat Feb 8 2025

.SYNOPSIS...Strong high pressure continues to build over the
state as tropical moisture begins to stream up the west side of
the ridge along the West Coast. A 75 mb and increasing gradient
from the eastern Interior to the western Aleutians will bring east
winds 20 to 30 mph with higher gusts along the West Coast through
early next week. Very warm air will also bring periods of mixed
precipitation to the West Coast through Tuesday before conditions
dry out. Clear skies, strong inversions, and seasonably warm
temperatures are expected in the Interior.

.DISCUSSION...
Key Weather Messages...

Central and Eastern Interior...

 - Cooler overnight temperatures in the teens to 20s below in
   valleys expected through the weekend and most of next week with
   clearer skies.

 - Strong inversions developing by Sunday with hills near
   freezing.

 - Dry conditions with clear skies expected through next week.

West Coast & Western Interior...

 - Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for Sunday for the
   Seward Peninsula, Yukon Delta, and St. Lawrence Island for snow
   and blowing snow followed by rain and light ice accumulations.
   Models have shifted to bring precipitation further west, so
   have increased precip amounts for St. Lawrence Island and near
   Wales and decreased it for Nome.

 - Majority of snowfall expected for areas north of the Seward
   Peninsula with the passage of the weather system. 1 to 2 inches
   of snowfall expected in these areas, except up to 4 inches in
   the mountains north of Nome.

 - Ice amounts of up to one tenth of an inch expected from the
   Bering Strait to western Norton Sound before temperatures rise
   above freezing and precipitation turns to rain.

 - Gusty winds expected along the coast with the weather system
   may result in blowing snow for some areas and reduced
   visibility near the onset of the snowfall before snow turns to
   rain.

North Slope and Brooks Range...

 - Above normal temperatures will move in across the area with the
   system moving up the West Coast. Precipitation is expected to
   be snow with this progressing system, with a slight chance of
   freezing rain from Wainwright west. Any precipitation will be
   light.

 - The northerly progression of the weather system across the west
   coast will tighten pressure gradients, resulting in southerly
   gap winds through Anaktuvuk and Atigun Passes beginning around
   midnight on Sunday, improving Monday morning.

 - Windy conditions with gusts to 50 mph expected near Point Hope
   Sunday late morning through Monday night.

Forecast Analysis and Confidence...High pressure continues to
build over the eastern Interior under a strong ridge aloft.
Tropical moisture is beginning to stream northward along the west
coast, but is being somewhat blocked by the Alaska Peninsula. A
couple shortwaves will bring mixed precipitation toward the
western capes of the west coast this weekend. Otherwise, high
pressure will remain in place through early next week.

Models have shifted precipitation with the first system on Sunday
to the west over the last few runs, so have adjusted the forecast
accordingly. Models remain in good agreement through the short
term forecast period and even into the extended forecast period.

Extended Forecast Days 4-7...Ridging persists, bringing dry and
clear conditions with slightly above normal to well above normal
temperatures. The ridge will likely break down from the east late
Thursday and Friday with colder conditions possible. There is a
slight chance of some light snow east of Tanana as this happens.
Periods of strong east winds with blowing snow along the North
Slope, West Coast, and over Interior Summits are likely toward the
end of the week.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ820>822-827.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ825.
PK...Gale Warning for PKZ801-802-850.
     Gale Warning for PKZ803.
     Gale Warning for PKZ804.
     Gale Warning for PKZ805-854.
     Gale Warning for PKZ806.
     Gale Warning for PKZ807-809-855.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ808.
     Gale Warning for PKZ810-856.
     Gale Warning for PKZ811-857.
     Gale Warning for PKZ816-817-852-853.
     Gale Warning for PKZ851.
&&

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