Blizzard in Alaska, March 14, 2012

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
1240 PM AKDT WED MAR 14 2012

.DISCUSSION...
MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT THROUGH 60 HOURS. LONG WAVE TROUGH OVER
NORTHERN ALASKA WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK.
THE MAIN UPPER LEVEL LOW IN BRISTOL BAY WILL MOVE EASTWARD TO THE
GULF OF ALASKA BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. ANOTHER LOW WILL DROP OUT OF
THE ARCTIC FROM THE NORTHEAST AND REINFORCE THE COLD AIR OVER
NORTHERN ALASKA.

HIGH PRESSURE WILL STRENGTHEN OVER THE ARCTIC SLOPE THROUGH
FRIDAY. THIS WILL KEEP AN INCREASED PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE
BROOKS RANGE ZONES AND THE EASTERN ARCTIC WHICH WILL LIKELY CARRY
THE WIND CHILL ADVISORIES THROUGH FRIDAY. WINDS ALONG THE ARCTIC
COAST WILL LIKELY SLACKEN UP AS THE HIGH PRESSURE AXIS WILL SET UP
OVER THE ARCTIC COAST.

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDS IN THE BERING OVER THE WEEKEND
AND THEN ATTEMPTS TO MOVE EASTWARD BEFORE BEING KNOCKED DOWN ON WED.

LITTLE TO NO PRECIPITATION OVER NORTHERN ALASKA IS GOING TO BE THE
NORM THROUGH NEXT MON WHILE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO
BUILD OVER THE NORTH SLOPE THROUGH TUE. THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL
PUSH EASTWARD AND FORCE THE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OFF INTO WESTERN
CANADA AND THE COLDEST AIR WILL BE PUSHED TO THE EASTERN ONE THIRD
OF THE STATE. MUCH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL PUSH EASTWARD
INTO THE BERING SEA BY WED.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ201-AKZ205-AKZ206-AKZ207.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ225.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ210.
&&

CF MAR 12