Heavy Snow in Alaska, April 1, 2018

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
245 PM AKDT Sat Mar 31 2018

.DISCUSSION...

A ridge will build over the Bering sea and stretch northward
across the bering strait through Monday. A shortwave will move
east across the western north slope tonight and continue to track
to the east and will be over the eastern North Slope on Sunday.
Another shortwave will track across the Interior Saturday evening
bringing a shot of snow for the Middle Tanana Valley. On Tuesday
a cold 518 dam low will push southward into the western Interior
and deepen to 510 dam by Wednesday afternoon over the Yukon Delta
then move over Bristol Bay on Thursday.

Surface...A frontal boundary will sweep across the north slope
bringing snow and gusty winds this afternoon and will push over
the Beaufort Sea coast and into the Interior this evening. A 1042
mb high will build over the Bering sea and build northward over
the weekend and into next week.

West Coast and Western Interior: Fog and low clouds will persist
along the west coast into early Sunday (the HRRR actually has a
solid area of low visibility fog stretching from the Bering Strait
Coast southward to the Yukon Delta through early Sunday morning).
Dense fog headlines added for zones 213 and 211 for dense fog
around Nome and the Bering Strait. High pressure will build north
across west coast on Sunday, keeping the west coast free of
precipitation Sunday through Tuesday. Low level winds will
strengthen and become northeasterly on Tuesday.

North Slope and Brooks Range:
Winter weather advisories still in effect for zones 202 and 203. A
blizzard warning is in effect for zone 204. Snowfall amounts
around the 2 to 4 inch range with locally higher amounts over the
Eastern Brooks range through Sunday morning. A tight pressure
gradient will produce westerly winds gusting to 50 mph near Barter
Island area Sunday into Monday. High pressure will build along the
north side of the Brooks Range this evening. This will cause
strong northerly gap winds to develop in Brooks Range Passes. The
gap winds in the Brooks Range combined with falling snow will
result in blowing snow reducing the visibility to one half mile or
less at times into Sunday.

Central and Eastern Interior: Snow will begin to develop across
the Middle Tanana Valley late this afternoon due to a frontal
boundary and an increase in moisture. Expecting 1 to 3 inches
with the heaviest amounts south of Fairbanks and near the Alaska
range due to upslope enhancement. The snow will gradually taper
off Sunday morning. In addition to the snow, wind gusts as high as
25 mph will cause blowing snow reducing the visibility at times
mainly over higher terrain. Blowing and drifting snow possible
over the summits of the Steese, Dalton and Elliott Highways.
Winter weather advisories are in effect for snow and blowing snow
for zones 220 218 and 219. High pressure will build over the
Interior on Monday drying things out. Little to no precipitation
through mid week for the Interior.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Blizzard Warning for AKZ204.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ202-AKZ203-AKZ206-AKZ218-AKZ219-
AKZ220.

Gale Warning for PKZ240-PKZ245.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ230-PKZ235-PKZ240-PKZ245.
&&

JK MAR 18