textproduct: Anchorage

SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)

Snow has filled in this morning across the northern Cook Inlet and Mat-Su Valleys as a trough continues to progress through the Gulf. The strongest dynamic forcing and cold air advection is more into the eastern Gulf and Panhandle, but some of the moisture will wrap into Southcentral with weak easterly waves moving through north of the upper low center. Most low elevation areas will get a trace to three inches over the next 24 hours (including the overnight accumulation) while a few areas will get upslope enhancement. These are the Anchorage and Eagle River Hillsides, the interior Kenai Peninsula near Cooper Landing if temperatures stay cool enough and the northern slopes of the Chugach in areas like Ernestine and Eureka. The Alaska Range Passes will also get a fair amount of snow, but for the most part this is expected on the north side of the range. Precipitation will last most of the day for most spots, but the April solar intensity should limit daytime accumulation on roads and most non-snow covered surfaces.

The influence of this system will deteriorate for most areas on Monday, though the southern Copper Valley and the Mentasta/Nabesna area may continue to get light snow through late Monday night. For Tuesday, expect a return to sunny conditions with slightly below normal temperatures.

AVIATION

PANC...Snow moving through the area today will bring IFR conditions with intermittent improvements to MVFR. Light accumulation of around 1 to 2 inches is expected. Conditions improve to VFR this evening, though cloud ceiling will likely stay below 5000 ft.