ALASKA EXTENDED FORECAST DISCUSSION NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD 143 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2014 VALID 12Z WED MAR 19 2014 - 12Z SUN MAR 23 2014 THE ENSEMBLE MEANS HAVE BEEN SLOWLY CONVERGING TOWARD A PATTERN CHANGE ACROSS THE ALASKA REGION AT THE MEDIUM RANGE--INSTIGATED IN PART BY A MASSIVE INFLUX OF ENERGY OVER THE WESTERN BERING SEA AND ALEUTIANS. THE FINAL RESULT OF THIS SHUFFLING IS AN UPPER RIDGE OVER MAINLAND ALASKA BY SUNDAY MARCH 23. THE REEMERGENCE OF THE RIDGE WILL SET UP THE CROSS-POLAR FLOW INTO CANADA THAT HAS MARKED MUCH OF THIS COLD SEASON. A SUBSTANTIAL COOLING SHOULD AFFECT THE PANHANDLE BY LATE NEXT WEEKEND ONCE THE TAP TO THE NORTH POLE IS FLOWING FREELY. PRECIPITATION WILL START OUT WITH TWO BULLEYES DAY 4--ONE OVER THE ALEUTIANS AND ONE OVER THE PANHANDLE. AS THE FLOW SHUFFLES, BOTH THE MOISTURE PLUME FROM THE LOWER LATITUDES AND THE BAROCLINICITY ACROSS THE GULF WILL WANE. ONLY THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS WILL REFIRE WITH PRECIPITATION LATE IN THE FORECAST WHEN A SPRAWLING CYCLONE EMERGES FROM KAMCHATKA. CISCO