Expires:201305170300;Remove:201305170300;261876 WWAK83 PAFG 170055 SPSAFG SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FAIRBANKS AK 455 PM AKDT THU MAY 16 2013 AKZ218>226-170300- SOUTHEASTERN BROOKS RANGE-UPPER KOYUKUK VALLEY- YUKON FLATS AND SURROUNDING UPLANDS-CENTRAL INTERIOR- MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY-DELTANA AND TANANA FLATS- UPPER TANANA VALLEY AND THE FORTYMILE COUNTRY-DENALI- EASTERN ALASKA RANGE- INCLUDING...ARCTIC VILLAGE...WISEMAN...COLDFOOT... CHANDALAR D.O.T. CAMP...INIAKUK LAKE...ALLAKAKET...HUGHES... BETTLES...CARIBOU MOUNTAIN...GOBBLERS KNOB...FORT YUKON... VENETIE...CENTRAL...CIRCLE...STEVENS VILLAGE...BEAVER... CHALKYITSIK...BIRCH CREEK...CIRCLE HOT SPRINGS...EAGLE SUMMIT... TWELVEMILE SUMMIT...NENANA...ANDERSON...TANANA...MINTO... MANLEY HOT SPRINGS...RAMPART...LAKE MINCHUMINA...LIVENGOOD... FAIRBANKS...FORT WAINWRIGHT...EIELSON AFB...ESTER...NORTH POLE... MOOSE CREEK...TWO RIVERS...FOX...CHATANIKA...CHENA HOT SPRINGS... SOURDOUGH CAMP...SALCHA...DELTA JUNCTION...FORT GREELY... HARDING/BIRCH LAKE...DRY CREEK...DOT LAKE...HEALY LAKE...TOK... TANACROSS...EAGLE...TETLIN...NORTHWAY...ALCAN...CHICKEN... BOUNDARY...HEALY...DENALI NATIONAL PARK...CARLO CREEK... KANTISHNA...MENTASTA LAKE...BLACK RAPIDS...DONNELLY DOME... TRIMS CAMP...EAGLE TRAIL...MINERAL LAKE 455 PM AKDT THU MAY 16 2013 ...WINTER RETURNING TO THE INTERIOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY... A VERY STRONG COLD FRONT NOW IN THE WESTERN INTERIOR OF ALASKA WILL MOVE EAST THROUGH FAIRBANKS FRIDAY AND CONTINUE EAST TO THE CANADIAN BORDER BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW...WINDS AND RECORD COLD TEMPERATURES WILL ACCOMPANY THE COLD FRONT. AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES ARE ONLY IN THE TEENS ALONG THE WEST COAST OF ALASKA BEHIND THE COLD FRONT TODAY. HEAVY SNOW WILL FALL OVER THE ALASKA RANGE AND THE BROOKS RANGE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY WITH STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES. THE HILLS OF THE INTERIOR ABOVE 1500 FEET WILL HAVE 4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW FROM FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. THERE WILL ALSO BE BLOWING SNOW OVER HILLS AND IN PASSES. TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT IN THOSE AREAS. IN FAIRBANKS...RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ON FRIDAY MORNING WILL CHANGE TO SNOW BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS THE COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY. MOST OF THE SNOW WILL MELT AFTER ITS HITS THE GROUND AT LOWER ELEVATIONS...BUT HILLS ABOVE 1500 FEET WILL HAVE 4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION. GUSTY WEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONT FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL FROM FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...WITH HIGHS SATURDAY IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S. $$