Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 641 PM EDT Fri Apr 24 2020 Valid 12Z Tue Apr 28 2020 - 12Z Sat May 02 2020 ...Guidance/Predictability Assessment... Upper pattern across Alaska during the extended forecast period shows ridging near the Bering Strait slowly migrating toward northwestern Alaska as a trough digs southward into Southcentral late Tue into Wed. Additional troughing out of the Bering is forecast to move eastward toward Bristol Bay by next weekend. The 12Z GFS/ECMWF showed relatively good consensus with the ensemble means during the period, and a blend of these solutions was used as a forecast starting point. This blend maintained good forecast continuity but with more amplitude than 24 hrs ago. Western Aleutian system on Tue will likely split to the southeast as its old parent low weakens through the week. That system to the south may try to lift back toward the southern Panhandle by the end of the period. Over the Interior, a deeper trough compared to previous forecasts indicate another shot of cooler air all the way to the Gulf, though moderating, with high pressure in its wake moving into far northwestern Canada. Lingering troughing in the Bering may support another front but for now only depicted a surface trough across the islands. ...Weather/Threats Highlights... After a lead-in system in the Gulf Mon, another one will bring additional precipitation/winds to the Panhandle on Tue with perhaps a brief break before yet more rain/snow Thu with a surface trough. The Interior, by contrast, will be much drier after the front sinks southward and dissipates. Additional lighter rain is expected over the Aleutians later in the week after the first system, with more appreciable rainfall, slips to the southeast. After a cooler than normal period at the start of the week over most of the mainland, temperatures will moderate back to within several degrees of normal for most of the state with the better chance of above average temperatures near the Bering Sea. Fracasso 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: No significant hazards are expected over Alaska during this forecast period. 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