Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Fairbanks, AK

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000
FXAK69 PAFG 031230
AFDAFG

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
430 AM AKDT Wed Apr 3 2024

.SYNOPSIS...

A gale force front brings heavy snow, high winds, and blizzard
conditions to much of the west coast through Wednesday. Scattered
to numerous snow showers possible for much of the Interior
Wednesday and Thursday. Another system will bring snow and
blowing snow to the Yukon Delta coast on Thursday.


&&

.DISCUSSION...

Upper Levels and Analysis...

West to southwest flow will persist over the Mainland with
shortwaves moving through the flow producing snow showers for
most of the Interior. Upper level troughing will deepen and
persist over the west coast on Thursday as another shortwave
moves northward in the flow. This shortwave will bring more
snow and blowing snow to the west coast. Strong southwesterly
flow sets up behind the front leaving the West Coast in an onshore
flow, showery regime with cold air advection through Friday.
Precip tapers off for most of the CWA over the weekend.



Central and Eastern Interior...

High temps rebound into the 30s for much of the Interior
Wednesday through Friday as winds turn southwesterly and weak
downsloping takes place across the Alaska range. Southwest flow
through the column will keep moisture advection ongoing from the
Bering into the Interior, resulting in increased clouds and the
chance for snow showers Wednesday evening and then again Thursday
evening as additional waves of energy travel inland. Accumulations
are expected to remain light as the majority of the moisture,
energy, and lift are confined further west along the coast.

West Coast and Western Interior...

A strong front will approach the west coast bringing strong
winds, snow and blowing snow to most of the west coast. Blizzard
warnings are still in effect for Saint Lawrence Island and Winter
Storm Warnings for the Seward Penn through this afternoon.
Conditions will slowly improve Wed night for the Seward Penn. A
broad area of 4 to 9 inches of snow, locally heavier across the
Seward Peninsula higher elevations, through Wednesday night.
Another wave will bring another round of snow and blowing snow
over the southern west coast Wed evening into Thursday. The west
coast will see snow showers persist into Friday.


North Slope and Brooks Range...

Frontal boundary will bring more snow and blowing snow to the
Brooks Range passes and then Arctic coast Wednesday into
Thursday. South winds through the Brooks Range Passes 15 to 35
mph and east winds along the coast. Southerly flow will bring
moderating temperatures into the teens and 20s to the North Slope
through the end of the week. Periods of low visibility expected
along the arctic coast with snow devloping Thursday. The worst
conditions will likely be confined from Atqasuk westward to the NW
Coast.

Extended Forecast Days 4-7...

Bering Sea westerly flow dominates Thursday as a trough is
shifting inland, bringing snow to pretty much the entire Mainland,
especially the Western Interior. This pattern will gradually
shift south during the weekend, but chances of snow will remain as
some form of arctic troughing persists to the north and moisture
streams north from the Bering/Pacific. Overall temps look fairly
seasonal if not slightly above norms over the southern half of the
Mainland...with the coldest air remaining bottled up over the
Arctic.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...

Southwest winds increase along the YK Delta into Norton Sound
Wednesday night and Thursday as a Bering low moves to near Saint
Lawrence Island. This may bring elevated water levels of 2 to 3
feet above the normal high tideline, although since ice is in
place, it will likely just mean water seeping through cracks in
the ice nearshore.



&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ801.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ814.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ815.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ816-817.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ819.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ820>822.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ823.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ824.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ825.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ826.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ827.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ801.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ802-803-816-850-853.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ804-805-817-852.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ806.
     Gale Warning for PKZ807-808.
     Gale Warning for PKZ809-855.
     Gale Warning for PKZ810-856.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ811-857.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ851-854.
&&

$$


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