Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 616 PM EST Fri Dec 25 2020 Valid 12Z Tue Dec 29 2020 - 12Z Sat Jan 02 2021 ...Overview and Guidance/Uncertainty Assessment... Upper troughing in the Bering will translate ESE into the southern Gulf/Northeast Pacific later next week as ridging holds over the Interior/eastern Alaska/NW Canada. Relatively weak systems will rush through the North Pacific around the upper low's circulation along 50-55N. These systems will be hard to time so a broad blend of solutions offered a reasonable starting point. By next Thursday, favored the ensemble means as a best guide with more weight toward the better-defined and slightly slower 00Z ECMWF ensemble mean vs the 12Z GEFS mean as a better-defined system moves into and through the Bering Sea. Trend has been a little quicker but still preferred not to be as quick as the 12Z GEFS mean. Used a blend of the ECENS and the 12Z NAEFS mean which would take the parent low and then triple point low eastward into next Saturday. ...Weather/Hazards Highlights... Generally lighter and scattered rain/snow is forecast for Tue-Thu with the quicker-moving systems that stay generally offshore. By the end of next week, more organized rain/snow will push through the Aleutians and along the AKPen and southern coastal areas. Triple point development could enhance precipitation over Kodiak and southeastern areas of the Kenai Peninsula. Temperatures will generally be near to above normal through the period, especially over western areas of the mainland. 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: - Heavy precipitation across portions of mainland Alaska, Mon-Tue, Dec 28-Dec 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