Blizzard in Alaska, February 3, 2024

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
443 AM AKST Sat Feb 3 2024

.SYNOPSIS...Cold snap continues for the Interior through the
weekend. Low temps still around 40 to 55 below and some patchy
dense ice fog around the Fairbanks metro area again this
morning. Continued very cold into Sunday morning. Winter Weather
Advisory continues for the Eastern North slope and Brooks Range.
Snow and blowing snow and low visibility for the Yukon Delta coast
today as well as low wind chills over inland areas as winds pick
up there as well.

.DISCUSSION...

At the 500 mb level, A very cold 500 dam cutoff low is over the
northern Interior and will slowly drift to the east through
Saturday. -25 to -35 temps at 850 mb will remain over Interior
through Saturday. Early next week, we will start to see the return
of unsettled weather along the West Coast, as weak upper ridging
over the Bering Sea propagates east. which will bring some warming
to Interior 850 temperatures. The west coast will begin an
unsettled pattern through the week with lows effecting the west
coast.

North Slope and Brooks Range…

Winter Weather Advisory continues for the eastern North slope
through Sat afternoon. Snow showers and low visibility still
around one half mile at times. Winter weather advisories continue
for the Brooks Range Passes as well. Gusty winds and low wind
chills at Attigun Pass. Winds on the north slope diminish on
Sunday and snow will taper off over the eastern north slope.
Weak high pressure keeps things quiet Monday and Tuesday.

West Coast and Western Interior…
Very cold air remains over the Western Interior, and there could
be more low wind chills over the inland areas of the west coast
as winds pick up again. Wind chill advisories and a couple of
warnings are in effect. Precip does reach the Yukon Delta Today
and snow and blowing snow near the coast is expected. Upgraded the
watch to a Warning for the coast areas of the Yukon Delta. Snow
accumulations around 1 to 3 inches for the Yukon Delta.

Central and Eastern Interior...Another very cold morning around
the Interior with temps ranging 45 below to 55 below. Patchy
dense ice fog around the Fairbanks area this morning once again.
Dense fog advisory is in effect through Noon. There may be brief
clearing today then more clouds expected tonight. Another cold
morning on Sunday then Temps will finally rebound early next week
as the cold arctic low exits and warmer air makes it way into the
Interior. Winds do pick up near Delta and this will lead to wind
chill issues for parts of the southern and eastern Interior
Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning.

Extended Forecast Days 4-7…
For the extended, As ridging pushes inland, we will start to see
systems in the Bering Sea grow stronger and push closer to the
coast. This will lead to an active period for the West Coast, as
these systems bring stronger winds and precipitation. Along with a
more active pattern out west, this would indicate strong warm
advection into the region as well. 850 temps start to rebound over
the Interior Monday through Wednesday.

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

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Wind Chill Warning for AKZ819-829.
     Wind Chill Advisory for AKZ820-821.
     Wind Chill Advisory for AKZ824-826-830.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ825.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ826.
     Wind Chill Advisory for AKZ835-837-839-845.
     Dense Fog Advisory for AKZ840-844.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ805-808-809.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ801.
     Gale Warning for PKZ802-803.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ804-805.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ806-807-815-856-861.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ811.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ814.
     Gale Warning for PKZ816-817-851-854.
     Gale Warning for PKZ850.
     Gale Warning for PKZ852-853.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ857.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ860.
&&