Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 536 PM EDT Fri Mar 28 2025 Valid 12Z Tue 01 Apr 2025 - 12Z Sat 05 Apr 2025 ...North Slope high wind and blowing snow threat Monday into Tuesday, with snowy flow from western Alaska to the Interior... ...Guidance/Predictability Assessment... The 12 UTC cycle guidance solutions show reasonable agreement in and near Alaska. A 12z GFS/ECMWF/UKMET/Canadian model blend again serves as a solid and detailed forecast basis early on, before some 12z NAEFS and 00z/12z ECWMF ensemble mean was used late in the forecast period. ...Weather/Hazards Highlights... Surface low pressure will encompass portions of the Gulf of Alaska and northeast Pacific early to mid next week as preceding ridging near the Arctic Circle becomes too long in wavelength, forcing a split mid- ridge not far from the International Dateline which marches slowly across the Bering Sea and Bering Strait. Mid to late next week, a large and potentially strong low is expected to form across the northeast Pacific and start moving north in AK's direction. Only light to moderate precipitation is expected through next Wednesday before the southern cyclone approaches, mainly near the upper trough and transiting shortwaves ahead of the longwave feature. Enhanced gap flow on the backside of the low in the Gulf of AK is expected near the usual spots downwind of the AK Peninsula and close to Kodiak Island, where gusts above 50 kts/58 mph are expected on April 1. While warm core ridging across the Aleutians gets significantly weakened Tuesday into Wednesday, it should rebound northward to some degree late next week. Modest upper troughing in the AK Interior may support some local snow. Upstream, a cyclone exits eastern Asia during the short range period and moves north of the North Star State. When combined with a surface high near the Aleutians which could approach record strength for April at times, a high wind and blowing snow threat is slated early next week across Northwest Alaska and the North Slope. Flow underneath the feature into western Alaska and the Interior is expected to support periods with organized moderate to locally terrain enhanced snows/winds, with gusts above 50 kts/58 mph expected on April 1-2. Late next week towards next weekend, the large low south of AK should cause an increase in onshore flow and requisite precipitation for south-central AK and the AK Panhandle. Winds are anticipated to rise to gale force and may approach storm force next Friday into next Saturday, which bears watch. 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