Extreme Cold in Alaska, December 26 to 28, 2010

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
109 PM AKST SUN DEC 26 2010

.DISCUSSION...
MODELS FAIRLY SIMILAR THROUGH 60 HOURS FOR NORTHERN ALASKA. UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH CONTINUES TO DIG IN OVER NORTHERN ALASKA AND ORIENT
FROM NORTHEAST THROUGH SOUTHWEST ACROSS THE STATE. WEAK UPPER
LEVEL RIDGING WILL CONTINUE OVER THE EASTERN PORTION OF NORTHERN
ALASKA THROUGH WED.

HIGH PRESSURE OVER FAR EASTERN RUSSIA COMBINING WITH LOW PRESSURE
IN THE GULF OF ALASKA IS CREATING A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT ALONG
MUCH OF NORTHERN ALASKA. THIS GRADIENT IS STRONGER THAN ADVERTISED
BY THE MODELS DUE TO THE SURFACE PRESSURE OVER FAR EASTERN RUSSIA
MUCH HIGHER THAN MODELS INDICATE. WITH THE COLD AIR BOTTLED UP IN
NORTHWESTERN ALASKA AND NORTH OF THE BROOKS RANGE...WIND CHILLS
ARE AN ISSUE AS WELL AS BLIZZARD CONDITIONS DUE TO THE TIGHT
PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THESE AREAS.

EXPECT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AND WIND CHILLS TO REMAIN THROUGH MUCH
OF THE NIGHT OVER PORTIONS OF THE WEST COAST.

TEMPERATURES WILL VARY WIDELY ACROSS THE STATE AS THERE IS A WIDE
SWATH OF CLOUDS THROUGH THE MID SECTION OF NORTHERN ALASKA SO
WHERE THERE IS CLOUDS OR WIND THE TEMPERATURES ARE ABOUT 20
DEGREES OR MORE WARMER THAN THE PLACES WITHOUT THOSE ELEMENTS.

A REGIME CHANGE LOOKS TO BE IN STORE FOR NORTHERN ALASKA BY AT
LEAST THE END OF THE WEEK. AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL MOVE INTO
NORTHERN ALASKA AND PROVIDE SOUTHWEST FLOW TO THE CENTRAL PORTION
OF THE STATE. THIS WILL USHER IN WARMER TEMPERATURES ALOFT AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF SOME MOISTURE TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ208-AKZ210-AKZ217-AKZ218.

WINTER STORM WARNING FOR AKZ206.

BLIZZARD WARNING FOR AKZ207-AKZ213.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ211-AKZ219-AKZ220.

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ210.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ210-PKZ220.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ225.
&&

CF DEC 10