Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 337 PM EDT Tue Apr 23 2019 Valid 12Z Sat Apr 27 2019 - 12Z Wed May 01 2019 Ensembles show a trend toward increased upper ridging centered along 150-160W next week, keeping the storm track through the western Bering Sea. This will result in much milder/drier conditions for most of the mainland with high pressure at the surface anchored over the area. 12Z GFS and 00Z ECMWF showed good clustering near the 00Z ECMWF ensemble mean (and somewhat the 06Z GEFS mean) with couple modest systems lifting across the western Aleutians northward into northeastern Russia this weekend into next week. Preferred to keep a majority deterministic blend through day 8 to maintain the upper ridge. Increasing heights to the east will prevent the front from moving east to the western coast. Temperatures will increase through the weekend into next week well into the 50s through Southcentral and the interior. EKDMOS 80-90th percentile values exceed 60F in some locations (Anchorage) or 70F (McGrath, Fairbanks, Gulkana) which would be within a few degrees of record highs. Precipitation will be confined to the Aleutians most days and the Panhandle this weekend, but isolated showers cannot be ruled out along the western coastline and interior even with the ridge in place. Fracasso Bullet points from the WPC Days 3-7 Hazards chart can be found at: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/threats/threats.php - High winds across portions of the Aleutians, Mon, Apr 29. 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