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000
FXAK69 PAFG 261040
AFDAFG

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
240 AM AKDT Fri Apr 26 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Another day of tranquil weather across most of the State. The
Interior will be partly to mostly sunny with a few rain showers
over the higher terrain north and east of Fairbanks. The West
Coast and Western Interior will have a few rain showers as well,
mostly south and west of Huslia. The Blizzard Warnings along the
North Slope will come to an end later today as winds gradually
diminish leading to increasing visibility.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Upper Level Analysis...
At 500mb, a 517 decameter low is still spinning just north of
Nikolski and will traverse over the Aleutians into the Gulf of
Alaska this weekend. To the northeast, ridging over Canada
stretches through the Interior, North Slope and into the Arctic
but is weakening and losing its grasp. There are weak shortwaves
in the Interior, specifically south and west of Fairbanks which
will be moving through the Interior today. Relatively troughing is
northeast of the ridge and will be remaining east of Kaktovik.
Otherwise, the ridge is breaking down and we will be seeing some
changes to our current weather situation, but nothing dramatic.

West Coast and Western Interior...
Overall, today will be a nicer day with less rain, though there
will still be a few showers hanging around this afternoon south
and west of Huslia. Clouds will try to break during the afternoon
and evening from east to west. This will lead to the nicest day of
the weak with much more sunshine tomorrow. Temperatures remain in
the upper 40s and low 50s inland while they are near the upper 30s
to near 40 along the coast. It stays dry on Sunday with partly to
mostly cloudy skies on the coast and sunshine in the Interior.

Central and Eastern Interior...
Isolated to scattered showers north and east of Fairbanks in the
higher terrain today as a shortwave moves north over the Alaska
Range. Temperatures remain warm as highs approach 60 in the
valleys and 50s in the higher terrain. North of Livengood,
temperatures will be in the 40s to around 50. Otherwise, showers
center themselves over the Eastern AK Range and upper Tanana
Valley tomorrow with temperatures slightly cooler. This continues
on Sunday but showers will lessen in coverage as most of the
Interior remains dry.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
Blizzard or near blizzard conditions will continue this morning
along the Central and Eastern Beaufort Sea Coast. Winds will
gradually weaken this afternoon and evening leading to increasing
visibility. Otherwise, a high to the north will prolong the east
to northeast flow keeping stratus over the coast this weekend. The
Brooks Range will be dry with partly to mostly sunny skies
through this weekend. Temperatures will be chilly north of the
Brooks Range with highs in the single digits and teens. In the
Brooks Range, highs will be hanging around the 30 to 40 range.

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

Extended Forecast for Days 4-7...
There is an exceptional amount of disagreement in the models when
it comes to exact placements of highs and lows, but the overall
trend looks to be cooler with weak troughing around the North
Slope. Flow in the Interior may turn zonal early next week which
could bring a few chances for rain or snow showers in the
Interior. The next chance for some potentially impactful weather
may come towards the latter portion of next week with a front on
the West Coast, but there is high uncertainty.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Relative humidities will reach critical levels
(25% or lower) today across the Tanana Valley. The lowest RHs
will be near and south of Delta Junction at around 15%. South
winds through Alaska Range passes will be around 15-20 mph today.
High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 50s near Delta
Junction and in the low 60s across the rest of the middle Tanana
Valley. This weekend, temperatures will gradually drop and
minimum relative humidities will come up slightly to around
25-35%.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
River and lake ice continues to decay across the Interior. Use
extreme caution if traveling on ice.

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Blizzard Warning for AKZ804-805.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ812-813-858-859.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ814-815-860-861.
&&

$$

Bianco