What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Fairbanks, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 29, 1:30 PM AKST, 4 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 29, 1:30 PM AKST, 4 hours 25 minutes before
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
230 PM AKDT Fri Mar 29 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
An active weather pattern is beginning as a strong low over the
Eastern Bering Sea shifts into the YK Delta today and tonight,
bringing blizzard conditions to the Bering Strait. A second
stronger low will move into Bristol Bay and then inland across the
Interior Saturday night and Sunday, bringing more snow to the
Interior along with increasing winds. Heavy snow will occur over
the S facing slopes of the AK Range with strong winds 70 to 80
mph. Expect gusty southwest winds over all parts of the Interior
as the cold front shifts east Sunday. Unsettled weather will
continue for the west coast early next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Analysis and Model Discussion...
A stronger low is progged to develop over the Southern Bering
Thursday into Friday. Troughing will continue to dig south over
the southern west coast and shift to the east on Saturday. A
strong shortwave will swing across the Alaska Range Saturday night
into Sunday. The upper level low will track across the Northern
Interior on Sunday and southwest flow will set up over the
Interior. Another strong low will move into the Bering late Tue
into Wednesday.
Central and Eastern Interior...
A strong low pressure system moving across the Alaska Range on
Saturday will bring strong winds to the Alaska Range and around
the Delta Junction area. High wind warnings have been issued for
the Alaska Range. Temps will warm back up into the 40s across the
Central Interior on Saturday. As the chinook flow weakens we
expect temperatures to drop and snow to develop across the Central
Interior late Saturday night into Sunday afternoon. The heaviest
snow expected will be west and north of Fairbanks. 4 to 7 inches
are possible over the northern Interior. Winter Weather Advisories
have been issued. Fairbanks could still see 1 to 2 inches on
Sunday. Also we expect strong winds gusting to 35 mph over the
higher terrain producing blowing snow and low visibility along the
Steese, Elliott and Dalton Highways late Saturday night into
Sunday.
Around the Fairbanks area, expecting west winds 15 to 30 mph
Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon. Heavy snow expected for the
south facing slopes of the Alaska Range with accumulations of
6 to 12 inches. There is also a chance of mixed precipitation
over the Central and Southern Interior as well.
North Slope and Brooks Range...
The pressure gradient will tighten over the north slope over the
weekend as the low in the Bering moves northward on Saturday.
Blizzard Watches are in effect for the Point Hope area and also
for the Eastern north slope for strong winds, blowing snow and
low visilibity. Snow and blowing snow will move into the southern
slopes of the Brooks Range Sat night into Sunday.
West Coast and Western Interior...
Winter Weather Advisory still in effect for Saint Lawrence Island.
A stronger system will move into Bristol Bay on Friday bringing
snow and blowing snow to the Yukon Delta then spread further north
Friday into Sat. Inland areas could pick up several inches of
snow. Winter Weather Advisories have been issued. Strong
northerly winds will continue over Saint Lawrence Island and
develop over the Bering Strait and Northwest Alaska as well.
Blizzard Warnings are in effect for the Bering Strait Coast
tonight into Sunday.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...Strong
northerly winds will continue over Saint Lawrence Island and
develop over the Bering Strait and Northwest Alaska as well.
Extended Forecast For Days 4 Through 7...
Progressive pattern continues for the west coast and Interior
this weekend. A strong low moves into the western Interior on
Saturday then over the Central Interior on Sunday. Heavy snow and
gusty winds look likely in the Northern Interior and Brooks Range
and the Alaska Range. Around the Tanana Valley, there will likely
be chinooking to begin the day but as winds weaken over the
Alaska Range, snow expected to move in Sunday morning. Another
strong low could impact the west coast and Interior Tuesday
through Thursday, will continue to monitor.
&&
.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Storm Watch for AKZ801.
Wind Advisory for AKZ837.
High Wind Warning for AKZ847-849.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ850.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ852.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ818-823.
Blizzard Warning for AKZ820-821.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ825-826-829-830.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ827.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ828.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ831-846.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ832.
Winter Storm Watch for AKZ805.
Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ848.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ802-805.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ803-804-861.
Gale Warning for PKZ806-807.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ810.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ811-857.
Gale Warning for PKZ816-817-851-854.
Gale Warning for PKZ850.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ852.
Gale Warning for PKZ853.
Gale Warning for PKZ856.
&&In the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 29, 12:16 PM AKST, 5 hours 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
116 PM AKDT Fri Mar 29 2024
AKZ834>836-838>845-302000-
White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River-
Fortymile Country-Upper Tanana Valley-Upper Chena River Valley-
Tanana Flats-Eielson AFB and Salcha-
Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills-Chatanika River Valley-
Two Rivers-Fairbanks Metro Area-Nenana-
Including Livengood, Circle Hot Springs, Eagle Summit,
Twelvemile Summit, The Steese Highway from MP 85 to MP 124,
The Elliott Highway from MP 32 to MP 134,
The Dalton Highway from MP 0 to MP 38, Eagle, Chicken,
The Taylor Highway north of MP 9, Tok, Tanacross, Tetlin,
Northway, Alcan, The Alaska Highway east of MP 1392,
The Taylor Highway south of MP 9, The Tok Cutoff north of MP 105,
Chena Hot Springs, Chena Hot Springs Road east of MP 34,
Birch Lake, The Richardson Highway from MP 295 to MP 317,
Eielson AFB, Salcha, Moose Creek, Harding Lake,
The Richardson Highway from MP 317 to MP 346, Ester Dome,
Murphy Dome, The Parks Highway from MP 325 to MP 342, Haystack,
The Elliott Highway from MP 1 to MP 32,
The Steese Highway from MP 12 to MP 85, Two Rivers,
Chena Hot Springs Road from MP 12 to MP 34, Fairbanks,
Fort Wainwright, Ester, North Pole, Fox, Nenana,
and The Parks Highway from MP 290 to 325
116 PM AKDT Fri Mar 29 2024
...Active weather pattern for the Central Interior this Weekend...
A strong low pressure system moving across the Alaska Range on
Saturday will bring strong winds to the Alaska Range and around
the Delta Junction area. Temps will warm back up into the 40s
across the Central Interior on Saturday. As the chinook flow
weakens we expect temperatures to drop and snow to develop across
the Central Interior late Saturday night into Sunday afternoon.
The heaviest snow expected will be west and north of Fairbanks.
Fairbanks could still see 1 to 2 inches on Sunday. Also we expect
strong winds gusting to 35 mph over the higher terrain producing
blowing snow and low visibility along the Steese, Elliott and
Dalton Highways late Saturday night into Sunday. Around the
Fairbanks area, expecting west winds 15 to 25 mph Sunday morning
into Sunday afternoon.
Special weather statement, Mar 29, 12:56 PM AKST, 4 hours 59 minutes before
Special Weather Statement...CORRECTED
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
156 PM AKDT Fri Mar 29 2024
AKZ834>836-838>845-302000-
White Mountains and High Terrain South of the Yukon River-
Fortymile Country-Upper Tanana Valley-Upper Chena River Valley-
Tanana Flats-Eielson AFB and Salcha-
Goldstream Valley and Nenana Hills-Chatanika River Valley-
Two Rivers-Fairbanks Metro Area-Nenana-
Including Livengood, Circle Hot Springs, Eagle Summit,
Twelvemile Summit, The Steese Highway from MP 85 to MP 124,
The Elliott Highway from MP 32 to MP 134,
The Dalton Highway from MP 0 to MP 38, Eagle, Chicken,
The Taylor Highway north of MP 9, Tok, Tanacross, Tetlin,
Northway, Alcan, The Alaska Highway east of MP 1392,
The Taylor Highway south of MP 9, The Tok Cutoff north of MP 105,
Chena Hot Springs, Chena Hot Springs Road east of MP 34,
Birch Lake, The Richardson Highway from MP 295 to MP 317,
Eielson AFB, Salcha, Moose Creek, Harding Lake,
The Richardson Highway from MP 317 to MP 346, Ester Dome,
Murphy Dome, The Parks Highway from MP 325 to MP 342, Haystack,
The Elliott Highway from MP 1 to MP 32,
The Steese Highway from MP 12 to MP 85, Two Rivers,
Chena Hot Springs Road from MP 12 to MP 34, Fairbanks,
Fort Wainwright, Ester, North Pole, Fox, Nenana,
and The Parks Highway from MP 290 to 325
156 PM AKDT Fri Mar 29 2024
...Active weather pattern for the Central Interior this Weekend...
A strong low pressure system moving across the Alaska Range on
Saturday will bring strong winds to the Alaska Range and around
the Delta Junction area. Temps will warm back up into the 40s
across the Central Interior on Saturday. As the chinook flow
weakens we expect temperatures to drop and snow to develop across
the Central Interior late Saturday night into Sunday afternoon.
The heaviest snow expected will be west and north of Fairbanks.
Fairbanks could still see 1 to 2 inches on Sunday. Also we expect
strong winds gusting to 35 mph over the higher terrain producing
blowing snow and low visibility along the Steese, Elliott and
Dalton Highways late Saturday night into Sunday. Around the
Fairbanks area, expecting west winds 15 to 30 mph Sunday morning
into Sunday afternoon.