textproduct: Anchorage

LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Saturday to Tuesday)

Some increasing amplitude comes with the changes on the Alaska Weather map through the forecast period. The upper level Eastern Bering trough slips into the Central Alaska Mainland for Tuesday. An upper level closed low South of Alaska Peninsula moves into the Southern Gulf of Alaska and consolidates its link with the Mainland trough by Tuesday. An upper ridge over the Western Canadian Provinces adjusts to the movement and shortwaves rotating through the pattern, while a second upper ridge builds over most of the Bering through the period. A forecast blend of the GFS and ECMWF maintains good continuity over the features' strength and movement through the weekend, but the GFS slides to the South with the Gulf of Alaska low by Tuesday.

A moderately strong surface low South of the AKPEN pushes across the Southern Gulf of Alaska through Tuesday. Locally heavy rains and gale force winds span from the AKPEN across Kodiak Island through Sunday. High end gales are expected through bays and passes. The rain and gusty winds spread over the Southcentral Alaska coasts to the Canadian Border through Tuesday. Locally heavy snow is expected over higher terrain inland Monday and Tuesday. Rain and snow extends from this low into Southwest Alaska, with gusty winds from Nunivak Island into the Eastern Aleutians. Out west, a well developed low and front approaches the Western and Central Aleutians, bringing rain and gusty winds through Monday, with most of more significant weather remaining offshore through Tuesday.

- Kutz

AVIATION

PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist until late Wednesday night when the Turnagain Arm jet develops and could bend gusty southeasterly winds towards the terminal.