DISCUSSION
Upper Levels and Analysis...Models in good agreement regarding PoPs for the Interior over the weekend. A strong shortwave will move across the Bering Strait and into the Northern Interior on Saturday. Westerly flow over the Interior Today will become more southwestly on Saturday. This is a good set up again for wetting rains over much of the Interior. Another piece of energy will enhance rainfall over the Interior on Sunday. This shortwave is slow moving and rain chances will linger over the Interior on Monday. Another upper low drops down from the Arctic Monday night into Tuesday bringing more precip to the west coast.

Central and Eastern Interior...
Rain showers tapering off from west to east this afternoon with some gusty winds around 10 to 20 mph. Highest winds this afternoon over higher terrain, a wind advisory is still in effect for the Eagle Summit area through 10 pm this evening.
Winds elsewhere diminishing this evening. Windy conditions return tomorrow but under advisory level. The strongest winds appear to be in the AK Range passes Saturday evening through Sunday morning.
The main area of concern will be near Isabel Pass where wind gusts may be as high as 40-50 mph.

Rain, possibly heavy at times develops over the Central Interior again Saturday morning and persists into Sunday. Another 0.50 to one inch expected through Sunday afternoon. Some areas could see more than one inch. Rain will cause river rises but no flooding is expected at this time. Rain chances could linger into Monday.

West Coast and Western Interior...The next round of precip hits northwest Alaska and areas from Galena north on Saturday into Sunday morning before tapering off. Monday's rain chances may stay from Galena south, though there is some uncertainty. Nonetheless, rainfall totals through Monday are around 0.25-0.50" in the Seward Peninsula and 0.50-1.00" in the Western Interior with the higher elevations potentially over 1 inch. Another front drops down from the Arctic Monday night into Tuesday bringing more precip to the west coast.

North Slope and Brooks Range...
Widespread rainfall continues today with the heaviest holding south of Utqiagvik. Rainfall amounts around a tenth of an inch are expected in Utqiagvik with the rest of the North Slope and Brooks Range around 0.50 to 1 inch. Temps cool on Saturday and there could be a rain/snow mix, or a complete changeover to snow from the Brooks Range northward Saturday evening into Sunday morning.
Accumulating snow is not expected along the coast or in the Arctic Plain, but locations above 3000 feet in the Brooks Range may see a slushy coating of snow. It will be difficult to accumulate anything given the previous warm temperatures but highest elevations near Atigun Pass could see 3 to 5 inches along the Highway. Otherwise, colder weather continues on Monday with the chance for snow showers.

Extended Forecast Days 4-7...
Looking towards the end of the week, ensembles still diverge a bit, as expected, but it is leaning towards slightly warmer temperatures in the east, closer to seasonal norms and cooler/wetter in the west/north. Isolated thunderstorms could return to the Interior by end of next week.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...
As SW winds persist, expect sea level heights to remain about 0.5-2 feet above the normal high tide line this weekend from Nome South. The highest water levels are expected at Koyuk with 4-5 feet of water level rise through this weekend. Those with items on the beach should continue to take precautions as water levels remain high until the beginning of next week.

FIRE WEATHER
Another round of wetting rains arrives tomorrow morning in the Western Interior and spreads over the Central Interior.
Rain, possibly heavy at times develops over the Central Interior Saturday afternoon and persists into Sunday. Another 0.50 to one inch expected through Sunday afternoon. Some areas could see more than one inch. In terms of wind, southwest winds do increase today in the White Mountains and along the Steese Highway, east of Twelve Mile Summit, where wind gusts to 35 mph are anticipated.
Southerly flow strengthens in the AK Range passes today into Saturday, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph expected, potentially hitting 50 mph in the eastern Alaska Range.

HYDROLOGY
Expect continued rises on rivers draining the Brooks Range from recent heavy rain, including, but not limited to, the Wulik, Kobuk, Noatak, and Koyukuk Rivers and smaller creeks and streams.

In the Interior, rain is going to be moving through each day through the weekend as well with the highest rainfall amounts upwards of 1.00-2.00". The highest amounts should be expected in the higher terrain. This may also lead to rises in some rivers and streams.



AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
AK...Wind Advisory for AKZ834.
PK...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ802-851.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ806-807-854.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ810.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ811.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ812.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ850.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ852.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ856.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ857.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ858.