textproduct: Anchorage

LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7)

The long term forecast starts off on Friday with a low tracking into the Gulf of Alaska and weakening. Scattered rainfall impacts Kodiak Island and the Southcentral Coast. Higher elevations will likely see snowfall with snow levels at 1500 to 2000 ft. For Southwest Alaska, gap winds over the Unalaska area and Alaska Peninsula quickly diminish as the low moves east. Ridging develops over the Bering, leading to calmer winds and potentially low stratus or fog. Uncertainty with the low's location is present on Saturday, with more or less rain and snow possible for the coast depending on the low's exact position. On Saturday night/Sunday morning, a frontal system moves into the Bering, leading to rain and elevated winds over parts of the Aleutians, but exactly which part is uncertain for now. Southcentral dries out on Sunday as the low is absorbed by a new low moving into Southeast Alaska. A strong North Pacific low is poised to move south of the Aleutians by Monday, which would bring gusty winds and rainfall to the Unalaska and Nikolski area. Southcentral remains drier on Monday.

-JAR

AVIATION

PANC...Rain showers should be tapering off overall through tomorrow. Ceilings should range from 3000 to 5000 ft in general through tomorrow though there is potential for ceilings to drop below 3000 ft late tonight and remain MVFR for much of the day Tuesday. Visibilities will be VFR unless a particularly heavy shower passes through and briefly dips vis to MVFR conditions. Winds are expected to remain south to southeast under 10 kts, though there may be some occasional higher gusts through this evening.