FXAK69 PAFG 042347
AFDAFG

NORTHERN ALASKA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK
247 PM AKST THU DEC 4 2008

.DISCUSSION...
MATURE NORTH PACIFIC/SE BERING SEA STILL HAS SOME PUNCH IN SPITE
OF A RATHER RAGGED LOOKING SAT IMAGERY PRESENTATION. WE WILL
CONTINUE THE HIGH WIND WARNING FOR SAINT LAWRENCE ISLAND.
ADDITIONALLY...STRONG WIND HEADLINES/WIND ADVISORIES FOR AREAS
NORTH AND EAST OF KOTZEBUE AS COLD AIR DAMMED UP ON THE NORTH SIDE
OF THE BROOKS RANGE SPILLS ACROSS.

1036 MB HIGH WEST OF WRANGEL ISLAND MOVING EAST TO BE 100 NM
NORTHEAST OF PRUDHOE BY 12Z SUN. 979 MB LOW NEAR THE PRIBILOFS
ROTATING CYCLONICALLY SWWD TO BE WEST OF DUTCH HARBOR AS A 998 MB
CENTER BY 12Z SAT. BROAD LOW PRESSURE PERSISTING OVER THE GULF OF
ALASKA.

MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT IN THE NORTH TERM. MOST OF THE MID-
RANGE ALSO LOOKS TO BE IN PRETTY CLEAR FOCUS...AT LEAST IN THE
OVERALL PATTERN. CLOSED HIGH ALOFT OVER THE BERING STRAIT ON MON
MORNING MOVES NEWD TO BE A BIT NORTHEAST OF KAKTOVIK BY 12Z WED.
DIGGING TROF ON THE EAST SIDE OF THIS HIGH WILL CLOSE OVER OVER
SRN OR CENTRAL MAINLAND ALASKA BY TUE MORNING AND THENCE DRIFT SW.
TROF WILL THEN EXPAND TO COVER MOST OF THE CWA BY 00Z THU.

NORTH SLOPE...COLD AMS REMAINS IN PLACE UNTIL LATE IN THE
WEEKEND. EXTENSIVE SC COVER LIKELY TO DEVELOP MORE BREAKS
INLAND. MOST OF THE PRESSURE GRADIENT IS PACKED UP NEAR THE CREST
OF THE RANGE...SO WINDS WILL BE MOST OF THE SOUTH SIDE.

WEST COAST...SNOW FROM SEWARD PEN SOUTHWARD WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH
NEXT 24 HOURS. SFC ANALYSIS AND LAND OBS SUPPORT THE 15Z QUIKCAT
PASS THAT AREAS AREAS OF 50 KT WINDS SOUTH AND WEST OF SAINT
LAWRENCE ISLAND...HENCE WE HAVE GONE WITH A STORM WARNING FOR
TONIGHT FOR SW PORTION OF MARINE AREA 210. WILL CONTINUE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW FOR ZONE 216. ALSO HAVE ISSUED FREEZING
RAIN ADVSIORY FOR ZONES 214 AND ZONE 215 WITH WARM AIR ALOFT.

INTERIOR...SNOW OVER NORTHERN INTERIOR...MAY APPROACH ADVISORY
LEVELS BY FRIDAY EVENING.MODERATE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL KEEP
WINDS GOING IN THE USUAL AREAS. FAIRLY MILD AMS PERSISTING OVER
SOUTHERN INTERIOR INTO THE WEEKEND BUT COOLING THEREAFTER.

COASTAL HAZARD POTENTIAL DAYS 3 AND 4...NONE

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY FOR AKZ217.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR AKZ216.

FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY FOR AKZ214-AKZ215.

HIGH WIND WARNING FOR AKZ213.

HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR PKZ210.

GALE WARNING FOR PKZ210-PKZ220.

STORM WARNING FOR PKZ210.

BRISK WIND ADVISORY FOR PKZ200-PKZ220-PKZ225.
&&

$$

RT DEC 08



Back to Main Forecast Discussion Page