Blizzard in Alaska, March 3, 2013

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
310 PM AKST SAT MAR 2 2013

.DISCUSSION...
MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT THROUGH 48 HOURS. UPPER LOW THAT
BROUGHT AROUND AN INCH OF SNOW TO MANY PLACES IN THE EASTERN
INTERIOR...AND SOME PLACES A LITTLE MORE IS EXITING THE STATE
ALONG WITH THE SMALL AREA OF RESIDUAL LIGHT SNOW. SECOND UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH IS PUSHING EAST ACROSS THE CENTRAL INTERIOR. THIS IS
ONLY BRINGING SOME MID LEVEL CLOUDS AS THE MODELS SUGGESTED.

UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDING IN OVER WESTERN ALASKA AND WILL CONTINUE
TO AMPLIFY NORTHWARD AND AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CLEARS OUT OF
THE AREA. BY SUN...UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE EASTWARD AND
PATTERN WILL STAGNATE AND BECOME NON PROGRESSIVE AS RIDGE CAMPS
OUT DIRECTLY OVER NORTHERN ALASKA.

HUGE AMOUNT OF WARM ADVECTION WILL DEVELOP OVER ALASKA FROM THE
SOUTHWEST WITH THE FORMATION OF THE RIDGE. PRECIPITATION WILL
LIKELY BE CUT OFF FROM MOST OF THE NORTHERN ALASKA THROUGH EARLY
TUE. THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL SKINNY UP AND ALLOW SOUTHERLY
FLOW ON ITS WESTERN FLANK WHICH WILL BE OVER THE EXTREME WESTERN
PORTION OF THE WEST COAST BY LATE TUE. THIS PRECIP SHIELD WILL
LIKELY NOT MAKE IT EVEN AS FAR EAST AS GALENA.

UPPER LEVEL LOW NEAR BANKS ISLAND WILL SLIDE SOUTHWARD AND TAKE UP
RESIDENCY SOUTH OF VICTORIA ISLAND AND THE CORE WILL CONTINUE TO
COOL. SOME OF THIS COOLER AIR WILL SLOSH WESTWARD TO EASTERN
ALASKA BY NEXT WED AND THU WHICH WILL DROP THE TEMPERATURES BACK
DOWN TO ABOUT NORMAL OR JUST A BIT BELOW BY THEN.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR AKZ201-AKZ202-AKZ203-AKZ204-AKZ205-
AKZ206.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ230.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240.
&&

CF MAR 13