Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
236 PM EDT Sat Mar 16 2019
Valid 12Z Wed Mar 20 2019 - 12Z Sun Mar 24 2019
...Weather Highlights/Hazards...
The models and ensembles still show a pattern favorable for
multiple periods of terrain and coastal convergence enhanced
precipitation into the southern coast of the Mainland into
Southeast Alaska through medium range time scales. Moist inflow
will continue to wrap around a active series of deepened Gulf of
Alaska surface lows that re-develop as energies work under
influence of an amplified mid-upper level mean trough/closed low.
Systems will tap an atmospheric river to produce daily totals
averaging several inches with some locally favored 5-day totals of
10+ inches. The airmass quickly loses moisture content farther
inland, but expect modest snows from southwest Alaska to the
western/central Interior to northern Alaska as energy lifts in a
channel between a Bering Sea mean mid-upper level trough/low and
an Interior Alaska/western Canadian mid-upper level ridge.
Relatively dry conditions are expected to persist for much of the
east-central Interior under that ridge.
Meanwhile upstream, expect increasingly stormy conditions for the
southern Bering Sea/Aleutians mid-late next week then again next
weekend with deep surface low developments under a mean closed
upper low/trough position. This storm track has settled slightly
southward compared to yesterdays guidance. Highly unsettled
weather will accordingly work steadily eastward with system
progression toward the Alaska Peninsula/southwest Alaska in
advance of and with triple point low transitions downstream of the
parent lows.
...Guidance Assessment...
Overall, the WPC Alaskan Days 4-8 product suite was mainly derived
from the ECMWF ensemble mean to maintain as much continuity as
feasible in this complex pattern. However, included smaller inputs
from the latest GEFS mean and GFS/ECMWF models to show a bit
better detail as consistent with uncertainty. Offshore lows were
further deepened considering favorable support aloft and pattern
history.
Schichtel
Bullet points from the WPC Days 3-7 Hazards chart can be found at:
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/threats/threats.php
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