Northern Alaska forecast discussion National Weather Service Fairbanks Alaska 1256 PM akdt Thursday may 23 2013 Discussion... a gradual transition to a Summer dog-days like upper air pattern is expected over the next few days as a broad high pressure ridge aloft gradually builds over the interior. European model (ecmwf) and gefs ensemble means indicating the ridge persisting through next week. NCEP/CPC ensemble mean temperature forecast indicates positive temperature anomalies of 2-3 degrees celsius over most of northern Alaska from the Brooks range southward. A weak short wave may poke northward into the eastern interior Monday...this could increase the chance of some isolated thunderstorm activity. Otherwise...enough low level instability for some shallow convection...virga and/or isolated showers...in parts of the eastern interior. && Fire weather... warmer and drier conditions expected over much of the interior Friday into next week. Min relative humidity could be near 15 percent at some locations through the weekend. Surface winds are expected to remain light...so any red flag warnings would be for low relative humidity. && Hydrology... Flood Warning for the Yukon river at Fort Yukon has been cancelled. Flood Watch remains in effect for the Yukon river from Beaver to Tanana. Interior temperatures are expected to average above normal for the next week...accelerated higher elevation snowmelt will increase runoff into rivers and streams. && Afg watches/warnings/advisories... red flag warning for akz220-akz224. Flood Watch for akz220-akz221. Brisk Wind Advisory for pkz220-pkz225. && $$ Rf may 13