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Friday September 26 weather briefing for ARISE, Fairbanks Alaska mission region
** target area of the day: satellite underpass tracks in the area of 72-76N and 125-150W **
Current synoptic overview and short range forecast for the next flight day, Saturday Sept. 27:
The upper level flow indicates southerly flow in the eastern part of the state and strong northerly flow in the western portion of the state as a jet stream moves along the western half of a long wave trough. The vertically stacked low in the Gulf of Alaska continues to move east and spread clouds and precipitation to the north and east while a 528 DAM low over western Russia approaches the Chukchi Sea. At the surface, precipitation and clouds are spreading into interior Alaska from the southern system while clouds and precipitation are spreading over the western half of northern Alaska from a frontal system to the northwest. While the clouds and precipitation from both frontal systems are converging on the target flight area, there is still a dry slot between the two systems where there are very few high and mid level clouds
between Fairbanks and Banks Island.
Outlook for succeeding flight day, Sunday Sept. 28:
Looks like a good day for a down day as clouds and precipitation dominate the weather picture between Fairbanks and Banks Island. Monday and Tuesday weather forecast is showing precipitation across much of the target area but is showing not much in the way of high clouds.
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Austin Conaty, SSAI Global Modeling and Assimilation Office