textproduct: Anchorage

SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)

Upper level troughing continues to work its way across Southcentral Alaska today into tomorrow morning. Light scattered rain showers may linger across inland areas through this afternoon, with a small area of isolated thunderstorm potential (10-15% chance) across portions of the MatSu Valley and Copper River Basin this afternoon. Ridging currently over Southwest Alaska will drift into Southcentral by Thursday and Friday. Clearer skies and warmer temperatures are expected under the ridge, with coastal areas seeing temperatures approaching 70F and inland areas reaching into the mid 70's later this week. A period of gusty winds is likely (70-80%) to develop for Seward and Whittier as the ridge builds in from the north. One caveat to this forecast will be the extent of lingering low clouds and fog over the Gulf of Alaska as the ridge builds in. There is some indication that some low clouds or fog may advect toward the immediate coast, and perhaps into Cook Inlet, as early as Wednesday morning with a greater chance of these clouds moving into Prince William Sound by Thursday.

KM/TM

AVIATION

PANC...VFR conditions and light winds will generally persist. A few stray low clouds moving off of the Cook Inlet could impact the terminal at times through tonight, perhaps briefly pushing ceilings into MVFR range or lower.