


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Fairbanks, AK
Issued by NWS Fairbanks, AK
331 FXAK69 PAFG 132204 AFDAFG Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fairbanks AK 204 PM AKDT Wed Aug 13 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A storm system will continue to bring gusty winds and rain across much of western Alaska. This system will slowly track east and weaken through the rest of the week. High surf is expected to continue along the West Coast as post-frontal winds gusting as high as 40 mph will be possible through tomorrow. Rainfall amount with any precipitation the next few days should remain under an inch, with no hydrological impacts anticipated. By Friday/Saturday, rain will finally move into the Eastern Interior, potentially bringing light rain all the way into the upper Tanana Valley and Yukon Flats. && .KEY WEATHER MESSAGES... Central and Eastern Interior... - Today will be the last day of widespread above average temperatures, with most seeing highs in the upper 60s and ow 70s. - A period of strong gusty winds up to 40 mph is expected in the Upper Tanana Valley Thursday Night into Friday. - Scattered rain showers (40-50%), widespread cloud cover, and highs in the 50s/low 60s are expected Thursday through this weekend. West Coast and Western Interior... - Scattered rain showers (50-60% chance) are currently clearing out of the Seward Peninsula, but will continue to linger across the eastern Yukon Delta and Lisburne Peninsula through tonight. - Seasonally cool temperatures and mild weather are expected the rest of this week into the weekend, with highs in the 50s and lower 60s. - Light rain showers are possible (40-50% chance) across the Seward Peninsula and northern Yukon Delta Thursday night into Friday. North Slope and Brooks Range.. - Tonight into tomorrow, drizzle/light rain will give way to snow showers, or a rain/snow mix. Precipitation will end west to east, tapering off in the East Brooks Range sometime Friday Night. - With overnight lows in the upper 20s/low 30s, light snow accumulations of around an inch will be possible in the Brooks Range and southern North Slope Thursday and Thursday Night. - Temperatures will warm behind the end-of-week system, with highs in the 50s returning for next week. && .FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION... Longwave troughing centered over the Bering Strait will continue to allow southwesterly flow to persist in the upper levels over much of Alaska. This in conjunction with multiple embedded mid-level disturbances will result in widespread cloud cover and rain across Western Alaska the rest of the day and tonight, moving into Central Alaska tomorrow, and into the Eastern Interior by Friday. An area to focus on will be the Brooks Range and the North Slope. Surface temperatures in the upper 20s and 30s with 850 hPa temperatures will ranging anywhere from 0C to -7C will make rain/snow mix, or even all snow possible Thursday (western half of the North Slope and Brooks Range) and Friday (eastern half of the North Slope and Brooks Range). Wrap-around moisture north of an intensifying cut-off low in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska will also help some light precipitation (totals under 0.25 inches) make its way into the few remaining dry areas of the summer: namely the Yukon Flats and the Upper Tanana Valley. Temperatures with and behind this system will range anywhere from 5 to 10 degrees below average, with highs in the 50s and low 60s, and lows in the 30s and 40s. && .FIRE WEATHER... Fire weather conditions will continue to be generally unfavorable for fires, as widespread cloud cover, rain, and high relative humidities will continue to spread eastward from West Alaska over the next couple of days. There will continue to be isolated pockets of continued concern, however, with the Yukon Flats and Upper Tanana Valley staying dry and warm into Friday. By the beginning of the upcoming weekend, much needed rain, albeit light and patchy, should works its way into these regions. && .HYDROLOGY... Though rain is coming to an end across the Seward Peninsula, widespread rain showers are expected to continues across the Western Brooks Range and the Western North Slope through tonight. Here, up to an additional inch of rain will be possible. Otherwise, the 1-4 inches of rain that have fallen the last couple of days have contributed to creeks, streams and rivers in the area running high. Elevated river flow and levels will continue for 1-2 days after rain ends as excess rain water runs off the higher terrain into their respective sounds. && .EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7... In general, by the end of the upcoming weekend and into next week, ridging will be building into much of Alaska from the southwest. This will promote mild conditions, with temperatures near or slightly below average (highs in the 50s and low 60s). Remnant wrap-around moisture from the cut-off low in the Gulf of Alaska will still support isolated (30-40% chance) rain showers across Eastern Alaska. Otherwise, high pressure will keep things dry for most during this time frame. The one exception to this will be along the Brooks Range and into the North Slope. Troughing over the Chuckchi and Beaufort Seas will result in rather strong westerly flow across this region, supporting periods of gusty west winds, low clouds, fog and/or drizzle the end of this weekend and into next week. Fortunately, the lack of any strong disturbances and associated cooler temperatures aloft should keep frozen precipitation out of this area during this time frame, with the exception of the high elevations in the Brooks Range. Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None && .AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AK...Flood Watch for AKZ822. PK...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ805-806-853-854. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ807-810-856. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ808-855. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ809. && $$