A very cold Arctic air mass is sagging over all of western and northern Alaska today as a high pressure ridge over Siberia stays put. So long as this ridge remains, unseasonably cold air can be expected for most of the mainland. Highs will range from near 5 below close to Alcan to 35 below in western Interior valleys. Lows tonight could reach 50 below. Nothing more than flurries are expected with ice fog a bigger threat in low lying areas.
Meanwhile, weak mid and low level disturbances will rotate through the upper trough over the state and keep snow in the forecast for Southcentral and the SE Panhandle, and, in the process, shelter us from a direct onslaught of the cold being experienced elsewhere. Snow from 2 to 5 inches is possible today and tonight in PWS and the northern Panhandle, including Juneau, with rain mixing with snow and lighter accumulations for the southern Panhandle.
Anchorage and the Valley are in for more low clouds and flurries today. Highs will be in the single digits to low teens. Possible accumulations of an inch or two are likely tonight through tomorrow, Winds will remain fairly light and temperatures will remain frosty.
