Chinook winds are developing over the Alaska Range today which will cause a warm up for the Interior today. Temperatures will be in the upper 40s to low 50s throughout the Fairbanks area.

Just this morning temperatures hit the lower 30s with mostly cloudy conditions, and more warmth will spread throughout the region as the day continues. The months of January and February have brought some bitter cold days throughout the Interior, so today, with temperatures above normal for the first time all year, we could be looking at one of the warmest days of 2012 so far.

This doesn't mean roads are clear, as ice and snow continues to cover the streets. Overnight lows will continue to fall, but with this Chinook developing warm days will persist as we head into the weekend. As we head into next week we won't see temperatures fall below zero, making it finally feel like spring.

With the system that is moving out towards the Southwest rain and snow will continue throughout the day. Blowing snow along coastal areas of Bethel will persist today along with 2" to 3" of snow spreading into the Northwest. Since temperatures are expected to be in the lower 40s around the Cook Inlet region will see predominantly rain over the area.

In Anchorage a mix of rain and snow will take over in the afternoon, turning into snow after midnight, with accumulation of 3" for higher elevations and 1" locally. The bigger concern will be the winds out of the southeast to 40 mph around Turnagain Arm and Portage Valley. This moisture and the winds will die out tonight because on the backside of this system is high pressure. This high pressure will turn our Friday afternoon into mostly cloudy conditions with temperatures in the upper 30s. By Saturday more sunshine will break through, allowing us to be moisture free by Easter Sunday.

Gray skies will dominate most of the day, but try your best to enjoy the warmth Alaska.