textproduct: Anchorage

LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Friday through Monday)

Friday will begin with high pressure over the Aleutians ridging northward into the Bering. At the same time, a trough over the interior of Alaska will be pushing southward into the North Pacific. Rain chances will promptly diminish over Alaska on Saturday with a temporary col developing Saturday morning. Drier conditions and calmer winds are likely to start the weekend. THe forecast becomes a little more unclear on Sunday with models showing a progressive trough digging into the state and following the downstream side of the ridge of high pressure. Thus, rain chances will return briefly along with gusty northerly winds. While high winds are not expected, gusty gap winds will impact most of the mountain passes from Southwest Alaska to Southcentral Alaska along with breezier conditions for the lower elevations. Behind the progressive trough conditions will once again clear across the region on Monday.

-BL

AVIATION

PANC...Steady rain will taper off later this evening as light winds slowly shift around from southwesterly to southerly. Visibility will likely improve to VFR as rain lets up, but lingering moisture could keep ceilings in MVFR range until late tonight. Ceilings will eventually improve to VFR overnight into Tuesday morning. Expect potential for winds blowing out of the Turnagain Arm to bend into the terminal by tomorrow afternoon.