Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Hooper Bay, AK

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.