Experimental Alaska Medium Range (days 4-8) Product Issuance Time Day 4-8 Fronts and Pressure Graphics 1800 UTC Alaska Medium Range Discussion 1900 UTC Anticipated Issuance Times for Products in Development Day 4-8 500 hPa Height Graphics 1800 UTC Day 4-8 Max/Min Temps and Probability of Precipitation Grids 2200 UTC Day 4-8 10th and 90th percentile Max/Min Temps and Wind Speed 2200 UTC To accommodate a request for support from the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) Alaska Region, the NCEP/Hydrometeorological Prediction Center’s (HPC) Alaska Medium Range Desk is issuing, on an experimental basis, surface fronts and pressures graphics and an accompanying Alaska Medium Range Discussion. The graphics depict surface pressure patterns (from which surface winds can be inferred), high and low pressure circulation centers and fronts for days 4-8. An HPC meteorologist interprets available deterministic and ensemble model guidance and collaborates with the HPC contiguous U.S. (CONUS) medium range forecasters. The Alaska forecaster then uses the available model guidance and meteorological reasoning to depict the most likely scenario for surface fronts and pressures for days 4-8. That meteorologist then composes a forecast discussion outlining deterministic and ensemble model differences, preferences and trends. In addition, within the discussion the forecaster communicates confidence level, forecast uncertainty and any significant weather expected in the forecast period. Experimental products will be evaluated objectively by HPC and subjectively by NWS Alaska Region. If HPC and NWS Alaska Region deem that the experimental products add value to NWS Alaska Region forecasts they will become operational. At that point, the products will update regularly.