textproduct: Anchorage

SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through 3)

Upper level high pressure continues to be the status quo for the short term for Southcentral Alaska. A Special Weather Statement has been issued for the Cook Inlet region and valley locations for the likelihood of fog to redevelop once again overnight tonight and affect the morning commute. Without any big synoptic player to erode the inversion, radiational cooling during the overnight hours will keep the chance of fog around for the next couple of mornings. Once again, valley locations will generally be cooler for the next couple of nights than higher elevations due to the low to mid level inversion in place.

By the start of the weekend, a North Pacific low makes its way into the far western Gulf and turns northwestward towards the Alaska Peninsula, bringing rain back to the forecast to Kodiak Island. This low will likely be of lower impact to the area, but its upper low component will help to cut into the ridge and weaken its influence over the area. The attendant front, however, will make its way northward across the western Gulf through the end of Saturday.

-AM

AVIATION

PANC...From this evening through tomorrow morning, IFR visibilities are likely, with the potential for LIFR visibilities in dense fog similar to what was seen this morning. While there is uncertainty with how low visibility will drop and how long fog will persist, the weather pattern remains much the same as this morning, which means we will likely see another round of dense fog.

The setup will remain conducive for low stratus and fog through at least the end of the week due to narrow dewpoint depressions near the surface, light and variable winds, and the strong inversion remaining overhead.