


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Fairbanks, AK
Issued by NWS Fairbanks, AK
101 FXAK69 PAFG 181212 AFDAFG Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 412 AM AKDT Sat Oct 18 2025 .SYNOPSIS... While the overall pattern is much quieter, chances for snow continue this weekend and next week as shortwave energy meanders around the state. The heaviest snow is expected in the Bering Strait Region as snow showers and squalls bring some bursts of heavy snow as well as gusty winds. Northern Alaska as a whole will also be entering a cooler and drier period next week. && .KEY WEATHER MESSAGES... Central and Eastern Interior... - Periods of light snow and snow showers continue today then diminish in coverage tonight and end Sunday morning. - Dry and cooler Sunday and Monday with light snow possible along the AlCan Border Monday night and Tuesday. - Temperatures gradually cool this weekend and next week by nearly a degree per day. Highs are expected to be in the mid to upper 20s by the end of the week. West Coast and Western Interior... - Snow showers and squalls move into St. Lawrence Island this morning, then traverse northeast to the Bering Strait this afternoon. Some of these may come with bursts of snow and gusty winds up to 35 mph. - Uncertainty lies with how far east the snow gets. The most likely outcome is it stays west of Nome and resides from St. Lawrence Island to Teller west, though Nome may see some lighter snow showers throughout the afternoon and tonight. - Snow showers and squalls likely move over the same locations through Monday morning before dissipating. Snowfall totals today through Monday: - St. Lawrence Island - 4 to 8 inches. - Teller to Wales - 1 to 4 inches. - Nome - An inch or less. - Elsewhere, lingering snow showers and flurries today, turning mostly dry tomorrow through Tuesday. - Temperatures gradually cool this weekend and next week by nearly a degree per day. Highs are expected to be in the 20s to near 30 by the end of the week with the coldest in the Interior. North Slope and Brooks Range.. - Stratus with areas of fog continue with chances for snow, especially west of Nuiqsut today. - Generally quiet weather persists for the foreseeable future. - Colder next week with highs in the low to mid 20s along the coast and teens/single digits in the Brooks Range. Lows will be in the teens to near 20 along the coast and around 0 or below 0 in the Brooks Range beginning Monday. && .FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION... A broad trough over Eastern Siberia will continue drive most of Northern and Western Alaska`s weather moving forward. The most impactful weather in the short term appears to be in the Bering Strait Region as snow showers and squalls bring bursts of heavy snow and wind gusts to 35 mph today through Monday morning. A trough of low pressure connected to the broad Siberian trough will detach and become a nearly stationary upper low over SW AK early next week. This should only bring some clouds and flurries to SW AK Monday through Tuesday. Otherwise, a shortwave trough over the Interior keeps chances for light snow through tomorrow morning with drying conditions tomorrow afternoon and Monday as we get southerly flow aloft. Monday evening, a low in the gulf will bring a front with some moisture into the Eastern Interior with another chance for light snow Monday night through Tuesday. On the North Slope, the weather will be pretty benign with areas of light snow and flurries will be accompanied by stratus and fog. Continued activity in the Gulf will provide shortwaves over the Central/Eastern Interior through the week. While we don`t foresee major impacts, there will be snow chances for much of the week. More details on that below in the extended forecast. && .EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7... Generally quiet weather with a cooling trend continuing through the week. There are no significant hazards in the foreseeable future expected. One thing we were monitoring yesterday was the potential for snow in the Eastern Interior by the end of the week. The feature that would produce that has shifted a bit west on the latest guidance which would mean that most of the moisture will get lost in the mountains around Anchorage as well as the Alaska Range. There will be a lot of changes in the coming days, but right now it is trending towards something unimpactful for our area. Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None && .AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AK...Dense Fog Advisory for AKZ844. PK...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ806. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ807. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ813-859. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ814-858-860-861. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ816. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ817. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ851. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ854. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ856. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ859. && $$ Bianco