FXAK69 PAFG 150944 AFDAFG Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 144 AM AKDT Wed Apr 15 2026 .SYNOPSIS... Generally showery weather is likely across Northern Alaska through late this week, with multiple rounds of precipitation moving inland from over the Bering Sea. On the West Coast and in higher elevation areas, most precipitation will remain snow due to colder temperatures, but in the Interior valleys, rain will be possible with any daytime showers with high temperatures in the 30s. Gusty northerly or northeasterly winds will be possible through the next few days on the Chukchi Sea and Bering Sea coasts and in the Brooks Range. There is potential for a weekend system which could bring more widespread precipitation to the area, although there is uncertainty on how much moisture it could bring and how warm it will be. && .KEY WEATHER MESSAGES... Central and Eastern Interior... - Cooler temperatures remain through the end of the week with highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s for most areas. - Scattered snow showers linger across the Central Interior and higher elevations across the Eastern Interior this morning. Accumulations will be very light. - Another round of rain/snow showers across the Interior begins by this afternoon. Rain will be predominant in the warmer valleys with snow predominant overnight and at higher elevations. Snowfall totals generally light with 1 to 3 inches possible. West Coast and Western Interior... - Breezy northeasterly winds will continue through at least Thursday with the strongest winds from the Bering Strait to St. Lawrence Island. Expected gusts 25 to 35 mph. - Light rain, snow, and mixed precipitation will be possible through the end of the week. Precipitation will be most consistent for areas south of the Bering Strait along the West Coast and south of Huslia across the Western Interior. Mostly rain/snow mix is expected today and Thursday during the daytimes. - Temperatures remain cool throughout the week with highs in the 20s and overnight lows in the teens to single digits above zero. North Slope and Brooks Range.. - Scattered snow showers linger across the Brooks Range today and become more isolated thereafter. - Periods of gusty winds on the northwest Arctic Coast continue through the end of the week. Gusts as high as 45 mph are possible between Point Hope and Point Lay. Periods of blowing snow may reduce visibility and make travel difficult. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued. - Cold temperatures continue through the end of the week with highs in the single digits above zero while overnight lows reach as cold as the teens below zero. && .FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION... General ridging is in place over the Gulf of Alaska, with cold troughing over the High Arctic. This is lending to general westerly flow across Alaska, with a fairly progressive flow pattern supporting multiple lows and rounds of precipitation moving into the area out of the Bering Sea. Some gusty northerly / northeasterly winds on the western Arctic Coast are allowing for blowing snow in spots. A shortwave trough over Interior Alaska is helping to produce some light snow showers early this morning and will gradually move eastward and into Canada through the day. Reinforcing shortwaves moving out of the southeastern Bering Sea (coupled with some weak surface troughing) will produce further snowfall in the YK Delta and Lower Yukon Valley this morning before spreading it northeastward into the Central and Eastern Interior by this evening. Precipitation is likely to be scarcer in the Middle Tanana Valley/Fairbanks area, with higher amounts in the Lower Tanana Valley, the White Mountains, along the Dalton Highway, and the Fortymile Country. Highs in the southern half of the Interior the next few days will be in the mid to upper 30s, with upper 20s and low 30s in the northern portions. This will allow for periods of rain with any shower activity during the daytime in these areas. Highs will be generally near or below freezing on the West Coast and in the low single digits on the North Slope, so any precipitation will likely remain snow there. General showery weather will continue through the week and into the weekend as a more amplified trough moves into southwestern Alaska Thursday. This will coincide with troughing over the Arctic dipping southward into the North Slope, with northerly or northeasterly winds increasing across the Chukchi/Bering Sea coasts and Western Brooks Range. && .EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...Saturday through Tuesday To start out the extended time frame, showery conditions will be occurring across much of Northern Alaska, with some snowfall just starting to shift north into the southern North Slope. A stronger low over the southern Bering Sea will be moving toward southwestern Alaska on Saturday morning; by Saturday afternoon, most model guidance supports its leading front moving onshore, bringing easterly winds to the Bering Sea coast. It will also bring potentially widespread precipitation, with the chance for a few inches of snow in the Western Interior through the weekend, with higher totals in the higher terrain. Much of the Alaska Range and the southern slopes of the Central Brooks Range could see several inches of snow as well. In valley locations, snow totals could be reduced by daytime changeover to rain during warmer temperatures. After the system moves inland, northerly flow on its west side early next week will allow for colder air to move south across Western Alaska, although the Central/Eastern Interior could also see highs fall to a lesser extent. Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None && .AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AK...Winter Weather Advisory for AKZ801. PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ810. Gale Warning for PKZ811. Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ812-817-851-854-856-858. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ816. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ816. Gale Warning for PKZ857. && $$ DS