Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 531 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2020 Valid 12Z Sat Mar 21 2020 - 12Z Wed Mar 25 2020 ...Overview and Guidance/Predictability Assessment... A late week deep Bering Sea storm will focus hazardous winds and precipitation across portions of the mainland but begin to gradually fill and lift poleward by this weekend. Several more systems will then train across the region in the recurring pattern, but predictability begins to drop considerably by day 6. Expect moderate temperatures over the Interior/North Slope this week, but remain cold enough to support periods of heavy snow, with a particular risk for northwest Alaska. Meanwhile underneath, additional but weaker system trough/jet energies will dig through the Gulf of Alaska in a pattern with modest precipitation potential for southern/southeast Alaska. ...Weather Highlights/Threats... The WPC Alaskan medium range product suite valid Saturday through Wednesday next week utilized the 12Z deterministic ECMWF/GFS/CMC/UKMET through day 5 (Sunday) then with gradually included higher weights of the 12Z GEFS/NAEFS/ECENS ensemble means as model agreement and forecast uncertainty increased. This methodology tends to mitigate less predictable small scale variance from days 4-8 while also maintaining favorable WPC forecast continuity. Taylor Additional 3-7 Day Hazard information can be found on the WPC medium range hazards chart at: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/threats/threats.php Hazards: - Heavy snow across portions of mainland Alaska, Fri-Sat, Mar 20-Mar 21. - High winds across portions of mainland Alaska, Fri, Mar 20. - Much above normal temperatures across portions of mainland Alaska, Fri-Tue, Mar 20-Mar 24. 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