ALASKA EXTENDED FORECAST DISCUSSION NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD 1153 AM EST WED MAR 05 2014 VALID 12Z SUN MAR 09 2014 - 12Z THU MAR 13 2014 THE GOOD NEWS FOR ALASKA AT THE MEDIUM RANGE IS THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE MAIN DETERMINISTIC MODELS--IN THIS CASE, THE ECMWF--HAS HAD TWO CONSECUTIVE RUNS OF STABLE DEPICTIONS OF THE SURFACE WAVE TRAIN LIFTING NORTHWARD INTO THE GULF. WHILE TWO GOOD RUNS DO NOT A DONE DEAL MAKE, THE FACT THAT THE SOLUTIONS CORRELATE WITH THE MORE CONSTANT ENSEMBLE MEANS OF THE PAST FEW DAYS AT LEAST PREPOSSESSES THEIR INCORPORATION INTO THE MANUAL BLEND. THE ADDITION OF THE DETERMINISTIC DATA TIGHTENS UP THE GRADIENT OF THE SURFACE CYCLONES--PARTICULARLY THE SPRAWLING ONE LIFTING TOWARD THE SOUTH COAST OF THE MAINLAND DAYS 7 AND 8. WHILE NOT A WHOLESALE PATTERN CHANGE, THE PROBABILITY OF PRECIPITATION TAKES A MARKED UPTICK DURING THE PERIOD, WITH THE GRADUAL CONVERGENCE OF MOISTURE OVER THE BERING SEA WITH THE PLUME FEEDING INTO THE PANHANDLE, SO THAT MOST OF THE PACIFIC COAST HAS A CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW BY LATE NEXT WEEK. CISCO