Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Nunam Iqua, AK

KEY WEATHER MESSAGES
Central and Eastern Interior...

-Northeast winds peak Wednesday evening with gusts up to 30 mph along highway summits. Winds may mix down into the valleys with gusts 20 to 25 mph possible Wednesday evening. NE winds remain elevated through the end of the week.

-Temperatures remain steady through the end of the week with highs in the 40s to near 50 and lows dipping down below freezing in most places.

-Isolated rain showers possible in the afternoons. Showers will fall as snow in elevated terrain with low to no accumulations.
Showers become more numerous Thursday in the eastern Interior.

-Southerly gap winds through Alaska Range passes are likely beginning Sunday.

West Coast and Western Interior...

-North and Northeasterly winds increase along the West Coast Wednesday and Thursday to sustained speeds of 10 to 20 mph.
Kivalina and Red Dog Dock may see stronger winds with gusts up to 35 mph possible. Sustained northerly winds through the Bering Strait and across western St. Lawrence Island will be stronger with sustained speeds of 20 to 25 mph peaking Friday evening with gusts up to 35 mph.

-Showers remain isolated along the West Coast and Western Interior through Thursday before a front brings a band of rain and snow to the YK Delta and lower Yukon Valley Friday and moving up the coast through the weekend.

North Slope and Brooks Range..

-Northeasterly winds 15 to 20 mph across the Arctic Coast today will increase to 20 to 25 mph Friday with gusts 40 to 45 mph by Friday afternoon. These decrease slightly to gusts up to 35 mph on Saturday. Blowing snow is likely, but blizzard conditions are not anticipated at this time.

-High temperatures will be mainly in the teens on the North Slope with 20s in the Brooks Range.

FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Most of northern Alaska currently lies in a col between a vertically stacked low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska and a high to the north of Wrangel Island. There is weak ridging over the far eastern interior.
Surface high pressure in the Arctic has a NE gradient draped across the central and eastern Interior. Otherwise, the pattern is weak with weak flow and non impactful amounts of moisture. The low in the Gulf of Alaska will bring a backdoor warm front to the eastern Interior late tonight through Thursday before weakening near Yakutat on Friday. A weak low pressure system will move into the southern Bering Sea Thursday night, bringing another warm front to the west coast. This front will arrive at the Yukon Delta coast Friday morning and continue to push north, bringing a mix of rain and snow. Impacts will be limited and no products are currently planned. Models are in poor agreement on the timing and how far east precipitation will reach. At this time, prefer the NAM for limiting the easterly extent, but the ECMWF for faster northward progression of the front. High pressure in the Arctic will increase easterly winds across the Arctic Coast beginning Friday morning. Blowing snow is likely but at the time do not expect blizzard conditions. Winds will diminish Monday.

.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...Broad troughing will persist over Alaska through next week with periods of weak southerly flow possible as the storm track continues to bring low pressure systems across the Aleutians and into the Gulf of Alaska. This will bring continued quiet weather to most of northern Alaska with temperatures near seasonal norms. Showers across the Interior will be very limited with most precipitation along the west coast and in the southwest Interior, though amounts there look to be light as well.

Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None

AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
AK...None.
PK...Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ806.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ811-812-857-858.
Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ816.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ816.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ817.
Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ851-854.