Blowing snow and gusts to 45 mph forecast for Alaska's Arctic coast through Friday

The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has Alaska's Arctic coast, from Utqiagvik to Kaktovik, under a winter weather advisory until 3 pm Friday.

Wind gusting 35 to 45 mph is expected to blow snow across the ground, which could cut visibility below half a mile in places. Localized blizzard conditions are possible, and travel could be difficult.

The advisory covers Utqiagvik, Nuiqsut and Kaktovik, along with Deadhorse and the oil and gas fields at Prudhoe Bay, Kuparuk, Alpine and Point Thomson. It also covers the Dalton Highway north of milepost 387, the last stretch of the road before it ends at Deadhorse.

Up to 2 inches of new snow is forecast. Forecasters' main concern is wind gusts combining with isolated snow showers to cut visibility, according to their forecast discussion.

The strongest gusts are expected right along the coast, Thursday night into Friday afternoon. Winds will be lighter farther inland.

The wind isn't expected to stop when the advisory ends. The weather service calls this a long-duration wind event, with gusty winds expected to continue through the weekend. Easterly gusts up to 40 mph could keep blowing along the Beaufort Sea coast Sunday through Tuesday, the forecast discussion says.

The strong winds are also expected to move west to the Chukchi Sea coast late Thursday night. Gusts to 50 mph are possible from Point Hope to Point Lay Friday through the weekend, though most of the snow should stay to the north and east.

The advisory has changed since the weather service first issued it Tuesday morning, when it called for gusts as high as 50 mph. A Wednesday afternoon update lowered the top gust to 45 mph and moved the strongest winds from Thursday morning to Thursday night.

It's the third winter weather advisory for parts of the Beaufort Sea coast since mid-October. The first, on Oct. 15 and 16, warned of gusts up to 50 mph and freezing drizzle. The second, on Oct. 30 and 31, warned of freezing rain and up to 6 inches of snow in spots near Deadhorse and Nuiqsut.

The weather service asks travelers to slow down and use caution.