185
FXAK69 PAFG 272207
AFDAFG

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
207 PM AKDT Wed Aug 27 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Active weather continues today with rain in the Western Interior
and a wintry mix in the northern slope of the Brooks Range and the
North Slope. Winter Storm Warnings are issued from the Dalton
Highway west for ice accumulations and light snow. The Central and
Eastern Interior remains mostly dry today with an isolated shower
chance tomorrow, then steadier rain returns tomorrow night into
Friday. Wind will persist in the Alaska Range through the end of
the week.


&&

.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...
Central and Eastern Interior...
- Mostly dry today with a slight chance for a shower tomorrow,
  then steadier rain returns tomorrow night into Friday.

- Windy through the Alaska Range Passes with wind gusts to 60 mph
  and up to 50 mph in Delta Junction through Friday.

- This weekend will be a bit dreary with periods of clouds and
  chances for light rain as west/southwest flow returns. Though it
  doesn`t appear like any particular day is a washout.

West Coast and Western Interior...
- Rain continues along the Coast and in the Western Interior with
  another surge of rain tomorrow.
- Rainfall totals will be around 0.50 to 1.25" with the highest
   amounts expected in the higher terrain.

- A potential coast system approaches this weekend with gusty
  winds along the coast and another round of rain.
- Coastal impacts do not look significant.

North Slope and Brooks Range..
- Rain persists in the southern slopes of the Western Brooks Range
  with up to 2 inches possible.

- Wintry precip is likely. Winter Weather Advisories and Winter
  Storm Warnings are in effect.

- Rain and snow will mix with freezing rain, especially tonight
  into tomorrow along the Dalton Highway. Up to 0.10" of ice
  accumulation is expected.

- Heavier amounts of ice is expected tonight through tomorrow
  night with a late changeover back to snow tomorrow night and
  Friday.
- Ice accumulations up to 0.25" are expected, especially in the
   northern slopes of the Western Brooks Range and southeast of
   Umiat.

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...
A low over the Eastern Bering Sea is providing rain to the
Western Interior, Coast and Brooks Range. This is bringing strong
southerly flow over most of the state and warm air advection
aloft all the way to the Arctic Coast. The big story, other than
rain and river flooding, is freezing rain and snow in the Brooks
Range and along the North Slope. A surface high is providing a
cold northerly wind to much of the North Slope. Cold air at the
surface and warm air aloft is leading to a "textbook" example of
freezing rain and wintry precipitation today through Friday. Along
the Dalton Highway there has been light rain and snow with
temperatures hovering around 31 to 33 degrees. We are expecting
all of the precipitation from Anaktuvuk Pass northward to
transition to a wintry mix of snow, freezing rain and maybe even
some sleet. This will likely create slippery travel conditions
along the Dalton Highway. As far as Nuiqsut and Deadhorse, the
bulk of the freezing precipitation is expected tomorrow and can
make things slick with a glaze of ice, especially on elevated
surfaces. Otherwise, another round of precipitation will move into
the area tomorrow night through Friday, though this one will be
from Umiat southwest and we expect up to 0.25" of ice with the
heaviest amounts southwest of Umiat. This same area of
precipitation will allow for snow to develop over Utqiagvik and
the Chukchi Sea Coast Thursday night through Friday. Generally
light snow accumulations are expected (1 inch or less), but there
may be some localized areas of up to 3 inches.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
No fire weather concerns in Western or Central Alaska. The only
areas that we`re monitoring are the Southeast Interior and Upper
Tanana Valley where temperatures remain in the upper 60s to low
70s with min RHs in the mind 30% range. There aren`t many chances
for rain, but a front Friday afternoon into Saturday may bring a
few showers. Winds will be strong from the south in the Alaska
Range and Delta Junction with gusts of 55 to 65 mph (strongest
south of Delta Junction) through Friday. Otherwise, no
thunderstorms are expected.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
The flood warnings for Slate Creek near coldfoot as well as the
Middle Fork of the Koyukuk is cancelled, water has receded. A
flood watch remains in effect for the Kobuk, Koyukuk and Noatak
Valleys through Friday. A new flood advisory is being issued for
the Kobuk River as water levels continue to rise. Rainfall will
continue in the Western Interior and especially the Western Brooks
Range with mostly 0.50 to 1.25" of rain possible, but isolated
locations in the Brooks Range may receive up to 2 inches.

After an abundance of rain, rivers will remain high through the
week and into the weekend with some flooding possible along rivers
and streams. Keep up to date with all hydro needs at
weather.gov/afg and weather.gov/aprfc.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...
Additional rainfall is likely from a coastal storm this weekend
into next week with another round of heavy rain possible for the
West Coast and Western Interior. Strong south/southeast winds are
possible along the coast this weekend as well, but gusts should be
capped around 40 to 50 mph. No significant coastal impacts are
expected. Rain chances persist through the end of the week as
there is no sign in slowing down.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...
A storm entering the southern Bering Sea will bring stronger
south winds to the YK Delta Coast beginning Saturday. This system
will be monitored for further impacts to the West Coast of Alaska
over the next few days.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Wind Advisory for AKZ849-850.
     Wind Advisory for AKZ837.
     Flood Watch for AKZ813-814-819-828-831.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ804.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ806-807.
     Winter Storm Warning for AKZ808-809.
PK...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ801-803-804-851.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ802-805>807-810-852>854-856.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ811-857.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ812.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ815-858.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ816.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ817-850.
&&

$$