Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 408 PM EST Fri Feb 23 2024 Valid 12Z Tue Feb 27 2024 - 12Z Sat Mar 02 2024 ...Unsettled pattern for southernmost Alaska, with colder conditions across southwest Mainland Alaska... ...Guidance Evaluation and Preferences... The 12 UTC GFS/ECMWF/UKMET/Canadian model solutions showed good agreement into mid to late next week within a buckling/amplifying flow pattern around the North Pacific as a whole with troughing becoming established on both sides of the Pacific with ridging developing across portions of the Bering Sea and eastern Asia. A favored composite offers maximum system detail consistent with a pattern with seemingly above normal predictability and reasonable run to run consistency. WPC product continuity is very well maintained. ...Pattern Overview and Weather/Hazards Highlights... A cyclone in the Gulf of Alaska broadens in scale while moving south to southeastward within an amplifying flow regime across the Pacific. A larger cyclone moves northward offshore Asia and impacts the western and central Aleutians mid to late next week. The southern tier of the state, including the Aleutians, will be wetter/snowier than locations farther north due to the expected storm track, though there was a southward trend noted in the QPF compared to this time yesterday. Gale to storm force winds are anticipated at times across the Aleutians, AK Peninsula, and near Kodiak Island, particularly in areas of gap flow/areas that usually deal with accelerated winds in northwesterly low-level flow. Colder conditions are expected to spread through southwest mainland AK mid next week (Tuesday through next Thursday). Normally colder eastern interior and northern locations could flirt with -40F readings for overnight lows. For wetter southern areas, rain in the Aleutians and snow in southern mainland Alaska, including the AK Panhandle. is expected within the cold air mass. Roth Additional 3-7 Day Hazard Information can be found on the WPC medium range hazards outlook chart at: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/threats/threats.php WPC medium range Alaskan products including 500mb, surface fronts/pressures progs and sensible weather grids can also be found at: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/alaska/ak_5dayfcst500_wbg.gif https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/alaska/akmedr.shtml https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/alaska/ak_5km_gridsbody.html