FXAK69 PAFG 032220

AFDAFG



Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service Fairbanks AK

220 PM AKDT Thu Jul 3 2025



.SYNOPSIS...

The word of the day? Hot. Hot, dry and windy in spots today as the

Alaskan summer rolls on. Heat Advisories are issued for portions

of the West Coast, Western Interior and southern slopes of the Brooks

range through 10 PM this evening. The pattern doesn't look to

change much for the next few days as upper level ridging remains

nearly stationary over the North Slope. There is some relief 

coming next week as a cooler and wetter pattern looks to move in.



&&



.KEY WEATHER MESSAGES...

Central and Eastern Interior...

- Hot, dry and windy in the hills north of Fairbanks, White

  Mountains, Chena Hills and Northern Interior. 



- Heat Advisories will be issued from Tanana to Eielson today for

  temperatures in the mid 80s. 



- Red flag conditions continue tomorrow, especially in the higher

  terrain of the Central and Eastern Interior. 



West Coast and Western Interior...

- Hot, dry and windy conditions continue for the Interior with 

  Red Flag Warnings in the Upper Kobuk and Lower Koyukuk Valleys 

  through tonight. 



- Warm elsewhere with above normal temperatures, especially away

  from the immediate coast. 



- Isolated thunderstorms in the Seward Peninsula this

  afternoon/evening with isolated storms in the NW Arctic Borough.



- Cooler and potentially wetter pattern heading into next week. 



North Slope and Brooks Range..

- Hot and dry, especially inland from the coast and in the Brooks

  Range where temperatures can be as high as 85 degrees. 

	- Removed coastal sections from the Advisory. 



- Temperatures cool down this weekend, especially on Sunday and

  into next week. 



&&



.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...

A strong stationary ridge aloft is keeping things hot, dry and 

windy across Northern Alaska. There isn't much change to the 

ongoing forecast in the short term. Expect isolated thunderstorms 

in the Seward Peninsula and NW Arctic Borough this 

afternoon/evening. Thunderstorms will increase in coverage on 

Saturday, including the Alaska Range, Western Interior and Western

North Slope. On Sunday, expect a more typical summer day with 

thunderstorms isolated across most of the terrain in the Interior 

and Brooks Range. The extended forecast looks to change up quite a

bit.



&&



.FIRE WEATHER...A ridge of high pressure persists aloft through 

Saturday, then begins to weaken and break down Sunday. Red Flag 

Warnings for hot, dry, and windy conditions are in effect across a 

large portion of the central and eastern Interior both Thursday and 

Friday. Wind concerns increase late Friday evening as high pressure 

at the surface builds over the Yukon Territory and a thermal trough 

shifts southwest along the north slopes of the Alaska Range. This 

will bring gusty northeast winds from the Nenana Hills east to the 

Canadian Border. Winds will persist through the night Friday night 

over ridgetops with poor relative humidity recovery expected. 

Saturday will be the hottest day with persistent northeast winds, 

including the possibility of needing additional Red Flag Warnings 

for the northwest interior. The ridge begins to weaken Sunday, 

bringing cooler conditions and a shift to mostly southwest winds 

across all areas. Conditions look to be cooler with higher RH and 

more showers and thunderstorms moving into next week, though 

consecutive days of wetting rains in the same spot are not expected.



&&



.HYDROLOGY...

No concerns at this time. 



&&



.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...

A much cooler and wetter pattern is looking likely. Rain is also

looking more likely, especially in the Central and Eastern

Interior Monday through Wednesday next week with isolated to

scattered showers over the West Coast and Western Interior.

Temperatures look to drop into the 50s and 60s in the Interior

with some 40s and even 30s on the North Slope. There have been

some hints at snow, or mixed rain and snow in the higher peaks of

the Brooks Range as well, though we will see how it plays out. 



Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None



&&&&



.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

AK...Red Flag Warning for AKZ935>937-939>941-943-944-953.

     Heat Advisory for AKZ812>814-816-818-822-823-829.

     Red Flag Warning for AKZ919-928-931>934-938-942.

     Red Flag Warning for AKZ934-938-942.

     Heat Advisory for AKZ806>809.

PK...Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ814-860.

     Brisk Wind Advisory for PKZ815-861.

&&



$$



Bianco

Fire Weather: Chriest