067
FXAK69 PAFG 252321
AFDAFG

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
321 PM AKDT Fri Apr 25 2025

.SYNOPSIS...East winds and blowing snow have resulted in
visibility below one half mile across parts of the Arctic Coast,
so have gone ahead and issued a Winter Weather Advisory for areas
east of Nuiqsut. Winds will continue through Sunday, though slight
improvement is expected Saturday night. A warm front is moving
north along the West Coast bringing a mix of rain and snow through
Sunday. Southerly gap winds through Alaska Range passes are
likely Saturday and Sunday. Gusts will likely be 30 to 40 mph.

&&

.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...
Central and Eastern Interior...

-Southerly gap winds through Alaska Range passes are likely
 Saturday and Sunday. Gusts will likely be 30 to 40 mph.

-Temperatures warm over the weekend into the low to mid 50s across
 the Tanana Valley and into the upper 30s and low 40s north of the
 Yukon River under partly to mostly sunny skies.

-A fairly organized shortwave will bring numerous showers across
 the area Monday afternoon. Expect most of these showers to fall
 as rain, but some snow is possible at higher elevations and
 overnight into Tuesday. Any snow accumulations look to be light
 at this time, but total precip amounts between a tenth and a
 quarter inch are possible.

West Coast and Western Interior...

-A warm front is moving north, bringing a mix of rain and snow to
 areas west of Galena. Most areas south of the Seward Peninsula
 will see mostly rain, the Seward Peninsula will see mostly mixed
 precipitation, and areas north of the Seward Peninsula will see
 mostly snow. Accumulations will be mainly light, though Kaltag
 and the Nulato Hills will likely see 3 to 5 inches.

-Windy conditions with blowing snow continue at Gambell through
 Saturday night. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect beginning
 at 4am as falling snow reaches the island as well, further
 reducing visibility.

-High temperatures will be mainly in the 30s.

North Slope and Brooks Range..

-East winds and blowing snow along the Arctic Coast have developed
 today as forecasted, though blowing snow appears to be a bit more
 widespread than anticipated with numerous sites below 1 mile
 visibility. Have gone ahead and issued a Winter Weather Advisory
 for areas from Nuiqsut east for visibility of 1/2 mile or less
 through tonight, with slight improvement expected Saturday
 afternoon and Sunday.

-Lows will be mainly in the single digits with highs in the teens
 along the coast and in the 20s in the Brooks Range.

-The Brooks Range will be mainly dry under partly cloudy to
 mostly clear skies through the weekend.

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...A vertically stacked low from
the Gulf of Alaska has moved east over the Yukon Territory,
bringing remnant showers east of the Alcan Border with dry
conditions over the Central and Eastern Interior. A warm front is
bringing a mix of rain and snow to the West Coast. As of 2pm AKDT
Friday, precipitation has reached as far north as Shaktoolik to
Galena with northward progression expected through Saturday night.
A trailing shortwave will bring lingering showers to the Yukon
Delta Sunday and Monday as an upper low continues to rotate around
Bristol Bay. South of the Seward Peninsula, mostly rain is
expected. A mix of rain and snow will fall over the Seward
Peninsula and areas north of Selawik will see mostly snow. High
pressure in the Arctic will largely persist in place through
Sunday, bringing continued east winds and blowing snow to the
Arctic Coast. A 2-4 mb gradient across the Alaska Range along with
southerly flow aloft will support south winds through Alaska
Range passes gusting to 35 mph Saturday and Sunday.

For the forecast today, we increased PoPs with the system Monday
into Tuesday across the Interior. More on that below in the
extended section. We maintained the Special Weather Statement for
the Arctic Coast as blowing snow has developed up there, but also
added a Winter Weather Advisory for Nuiqsut east as visibility has
deteriorated in blowing snow to one half miles or less at times.
Also maintained the Winter Weather Advisory for St. Lawrence
Island as falling snow develops over the area with the warm front
while winds remain strong.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...A fairly organized shortwave will
continue north through the Interior on Monday night and Tuesday
bringing widespread rain and snow showers. Scattered showers will
persist across the area south of the Brooks Range through the
week. The pattern will be conducive to continued cooler and wetter
than normal conditions across most of the area. On the North
Slope, high pressure over the Arctic will move off to the
northwest, but persist in strength bringing consistent winds 20 to
25 mph to the Arctic Coast through the week. Areas of blowing snow
can be expected, but low visibility is not likely.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ827.
     Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ804-805.
PK...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ805.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ806.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ807.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ808.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ809-855.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ810.
     Gale Warning for PKZ811.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ812>814-817-851-854-858>861.
     Gale Warning for PKZ815.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ816.
     Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ816.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ852.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ856.
     Gale Warning for PKZ857.
&&

$$

Chriest