textproduct: Anchorage

SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)

A series of easterly shortwaves will continue to trek east to west across Southcentral Alaska over the next couple of days. Warmer air pulled in from Canada will raise temperatures into the low to mid 70's today for inland areas and upper 60's along coastal areas. Isolated to scattered thunderstorm development is likely again this afternoon as temperatures warm and instability increases. Higher chances are expected in the Susitna Valley at 50-60% for scattered thunderstorms, with a 10-30% chance for isolated thunderstorms in the Copper River Basin. Along the coast, more showery rainfall is expected to move east to west today, starting in Cordova early in the morning then reaching the western Prince William Sound by the afternoon.

As the low moves inland on Saturday, increased cloud cover will lead to cooler temperatures across Southcentral this weekend. As moisture is pulled northward, chances for precipitation increase across Southcentral Saturday morning and last through the weekend. While precipitation is expected to be light and showery across most of the region, places in higher elevations and along the Alaska Range will see the best chance of persistent rain. Additionally, the heaviest precipitation this weekend will fall along the Alaska Range, with up to an inch of rainfall is possible Saturday morning through Sunday night. A few lightning strikes are also possible across the Copper River Basin for Saturday and Sunday afternoons, though storm coverage will be less than what is expected today.

KM/PA

AVIATION

PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will persist through much of the TAF period. By the late afternoon/early evening today, there is a chance for rain showers to drift over the terminal, with brief dips into MVFR possible through tomorrow morning.