Full Notification

...SNOW FOR THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE THIS WEEKEND... .A pattern change will bring colder temperatures and strong outflow winds extending southward starting Friday night. Forecast confidence continues to increase that this pattern change, in combination with prolonged moisture, will produce accumulating heavy snow for the Haines and Klondike highways and communities of the northern panhandle. Forecast confidence has also increased for potential warning level snowfall moving into Yakutat and the Icy Strait Corridor. Heavy precipitation rates begin to reach Yakutat late Friday into early Saturday. The main forecast challenge over the Yakutat area continues to be the timing of when precipitation will become all snow. The snow forecast for the Icy Strait Corridor is more likely to be early next week, so we will continue to monitor and update the snow forecast through the weekend. Cold temperatures are expected to continue to spread southward into early next week, increasing potential for a long duration snowfall event.

* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 13 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

* WHERE...City and Borough of Yakutat.

* WHEN...From late Friday night through late Saturday night.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult and is discouraged.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...As temperatures begin to fall in the City and Borough of Yakutat, precipitation rates increase. There is still some uncertainty when precipitation will transition to all snow in Yakutat. With heavy precipitation rates beginning to fall late Friday into Saturday, even a wintry mix could cause snow accumulations to begin.

* AFFECTED AREAS: CITY AND BOROUGH OF YAKUTAT

Instructions:

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.