476
FXAK69 PAFG 091100
AFDAFG

Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
300 AM AKDT Mon Mar 9 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
Generally cold and benign conditions continue across the Interior,
with blowing snow on the eastern Arctic and Chukchi Sea coasts. In
the former case, this will result in periods of blizzard
conditions through midweek. Otherwise, little change is expected
for the next couple days until a few rounds of snow move into the
West Coast on Wednesday. Accumulations are expected to be light
for most areas, with up to a few inches possible through Friday.
With clearing skies and cold air aloft in place over the state by
mid-to-late week, surface temperatures in Interior valleys will
likely drop into the 30s to near 40F. Additional light snow
chances with minor warming are possible this weekend for parts of
Northern Alaska.

&&

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

- Well below normal temperatures return this coming week with
  daily morning lows reaching the 20s to 40s...coldest spots
  being Interior valleys.

- Daily high temperatures this week reaching the single digits
  below and above zero with clearing skies and drier conditions


West Coast and Western Interior...

- Near blizzard conditions for portions of the northern Seward
  Peninsula due to blowing snow and strong winds. Expect these
  conditions to persist for the next few days.

- Well below normal temperatures persist for the next several
  days with double digit sub zero lows expected.

- Chances for snow showers increase by the latter half of this
  week.

North Slope and Brooks Range...

- Blizzard Warning for the NE Arctic Coast continues through
  Wednesday with wind gusts over 50 mph at times resulting in
  ground blizzard conditions.

- Cold and dry conditions for the Western Arctic Coast and most of
  the Brooks Range through Wednesday

&&

.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...
Vertically-stacked high-pressure/ridging is in place over the
central Aleutians and is producing generally northwest flow
across much of Alaska. The Mainland is flanked by lows over both
the Gulf of Alaska and the Arctic, with very cold air aloft in
place. Temperatures across the North Slope and Interior are
broadly in the negative teens and twenties, with somewhat warmer
conditions under a band of cloud cover over parts of the Interior
extending from the Western Alaska Range northeast across the Yukon
Flats and eastern Brooks Range. Winds across most of Alaska north
of the Alaska Range are from the west to northwest. Over the
eastern Arctic Coast, west winds are blowing in the 25 to 35 mph
range, with gusts in the 35 to 45 mph range. This is leading to
blowing snow in these areas, with the worst conditions from
Deadhorse east but especially at Kaktovik. Over the northwest
Arctic, including the Kotzebue Sound area, winds are blowing from
the west-northwest at about 15 to 25 mph, gusting to near 30 at
times. This is likewise leading to some visibility restrictions,
with multiple areas seeing visibilities of near or below 1 mile.
These should deteriorate a bit by this afternoon as winds increase
to 25 to 35 mph, with 1/2 mile visibilities possible at times.

Moving into Monday and especially Tuesday, the ridge over the
Aleutians and Bering Sea will shift slightly north and its eastern
flank will drive flow more parallel to the West Coast. As this
happens, the surface low over the Canadian Archipelago will shift
to the south and increase the pressure gradient along the eastern
Arctic Coast. This will lead to increasing winds at Kaktovik,
where winds may gust to near 60 mph on Tuesday, leading to
corresponding visibility reductions from blowing snow with
blizzard conditions. During this same time frame, skies will clear
from west to east across much of Mainland Alaska, allowing for
much colder temperatures Tuesday morning in the 20s and 30s in
the Interior and on the North Slope. Even colder conditions will
be possible in the Interior Wednesday morning, when some areas
could fall to near 40F under clear skies with very cold air
aloft.

Wednesday morning, northwest winds in the Kotzebue Sound/Northwest
Arctic coast areas will weaken, ending most blowing snow, before
shifting to the south. By Wednesday afternoon, a shortwave trough
riding over the top of the Bering Sea ridge will enter the
eastern Bering Sea and with it bring snow to Western Alaska
lasting from then into Friday. By Wednesday night, the pressure
gradient over the eastern Arctic coast will begin weakening, which
will diminish the westerly winds in the area and allow conditions
to improve.

&&

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...
At the beginning of the extended time frame Thursday, snow will be
spreading across much of Western Alaska, mostly remaining over
coastal areas and the Seward Peninsula. Accumulations should
generally remain limited, with up to a few inches of total
accumulation possible through Thursday night. The coldest air
over inland areas of the Interior will shift eastward into Canada
during this time frame, leading to gradually warming conditions
with highs above zero and lows in the negative teens/twenties by
Friday. Additional clouds/light snow showers will be possible
across much of the area this weekend as a wave/front moves in from
the northwest, with some additional chances for blowing snow
across parts of the West/Arctic coasts.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

&&

.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ818.
     Blizzard Warning for AKZ804-805-808.
PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ801-850.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ802.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ803.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ805>807-852>854.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ808-809-814-815-855-860-861.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ810.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ811.
     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ856.
&&

$$

DS