Blizzard in Alaska, February 24 to 26, 2022

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
637 AM AKST Thu Feb 24 2022

.SYNOPSIS...
The messy weather pattern continues this morning, but the mixed
precipitation out west will become more spotty going through today.
Temperatures expected to remain well above climatological normal
across most of the forecast area going into the weekend. Alaska
Range winds expected to gust into the 50 to 60 mph range through
tomorrow, while strong easterly winds developing across the Arctic
Coast will cause blowing snow issues going into Saturday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Deep troughing over the Bering Sea and ridging cutting southeast
to northwest across the state this morning will continue to be the
general pattern going through the weekend. However, the longwave
troughing in the Bering Sea will slowly weaken the ridge as it
retreats eastward across the the eastern portions of Alaska by
Friday as a strong shortwave trough moves north into the Bristol
Bay region. This trough will retrograde back to the central Bering
Sea by Saturday, but the longwave trough will encompass the West
Coast. General southerly flow will persist across northern Alaska
going into the later portions of the weekend.

An occluded weather front stretching across the West Coast through
St. Lawrence Island this morning will push to the north, with a
secondary wave bringing more mixed precipitation to the Yukon
Delta and Lower Yukon Valleys through today. Chances for
precipitation will begin to wane tonight out west. The next strong
weather system will push north into Bristol Bay on Friday morning,
bringing more chances for mixed precipitation for the Yukon Delta
as the front pushes north. Models are indicating the front
reaching north of the Alaska Range, creating the potential for
snow for areas of the Interior Friday night. This general low
pressure pattern will result in increasing easterly flow across
the Interior beginning on Friday and lasting into the weekend.

Central and Eastern Interior...
The only current hazardous weather across the Interior is Alaska
Range winds through passes gusting 55 to 65 mph this morning.
These windy conditions are expected to last into Friday night.
Otherwise, dry and warm conditions through tomorrow, with chances
for snow as a weather front pushes north of the Alaska Range
Friday night into Saturday across portions of the southern
Interior. Easterly winds expected to increase across higher
terrain of the Interior on Friday as pressure lowers across the
Interior going into Saturday. Temperatures remaining well above
normal going into the weekend, with highs primarily in the 20s to
30s before a cooling trend beginning on Saturday.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
Blowing snow issues due to easterly winds gusting to 40 mph have
begun on the western Arctic Coast this morning with half mile
visibilities. These conditions are expected to spread further east
across the Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea Coasts over the next
couple of days, resulting in widespread blowing snow and near
blizzard conditions with gusts ranging from 45 to 55 mph from
Point Lay to Kaktovik going into Saturday night. Southerly winds
through the Brooks Range expected to increase beginning tomorrow,
with gusts 40 to 50 mph Friday night through Saturday.
Temperatures are currently near normal, with a weather front
pushing in from the south ushering in warmer temperatures to
around five degrees above normal going into the weekend.

West Coast and Western Interior...
Most of the mixed precipitation has ended at least from Kotzebue
Sound south early this morning, with snow and areas of freezing
precipitation continuing for St. Lawrence Island and areas of the
Chukchi Sea Coast and Lower Kobuk and Noatak Valleys. Another 1
to 3 inches of snow is expected for St. Lawrence Island before
tapering off this evening. Another push of mixed precipitation
will be possible for the Yukon Delta and the Lower Yukon Valleys,
with accumulations of five hundredths of an inch possible through
today. Temperatures in the 30s to 40s for highs today will
gradually cool to below freezing for high temperatures by Sunday.

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

Extended Forecast Days 4 to 7...
Deep troughing through the Bering Sea and some form of ridging
over the state will continue to be the pattern going into next
week based on latest guidance. This would favor the seasonably
warm temperatures to continue as well, with relatively limited
precipitation coverage during this time period.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Wind Advisory for AKZ225-AKZ226.

Winter Storm Warning for AKZ213.

Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ201-AKZ202-AKZ203-AKZ204-AKZ207-
AKZ214-AKZ215.

Gale Warning for PKZ225-PKZ230.

Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ200-PKZ210-PKZ215-PKZ220-PKZ235-
PKZ240-PKZ245.

&&

FEB 22