Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
533 PM EDT Tue Aug 23 2022
Valid 12Z Sat Aug 27 2022 - 12Z Wed Aug 31 2022
...Stormy weather with heavy precipitation/strong winds to shift
between the Bering Sea and southwest/western Alaska and the Gulf
of Alaska and southern/southeast Alaska...
...Guidance/Predictability Assessment...
There remains a strong guidance signal in support of the upcoming
stormy and energetic pattern with overall good guidance agreement.
However, the 12 UTC ECMWF/Canadian seem to cluster a bit better
with GEFS/ECMWF ensembles through much of the medium range
forecast period, especially at high latitudes. Accordingly, the
WPC product suite was primarily derived from a composite blend of
those with emphasis on the ECMWF days 4-6 (Saturday-Monday), then
ECMWF ensemble mean amid slowly growing forecast spread for days
7/8 (next Tuesday/Wednesday) that have better defined embedded
surface systems consistent with the favorable upper flow and WPC
continuity. Forecaster manual adjustments were then applied to
these blends to ensure deepened surface systems and enhanced
winds/QPF considering dynamic upper support. The ECMWF also seems
to have a deepened moisture signal (not the low) from the
Aleutians Friday to the Southeast Panhandle Sunday associated with
and in line with the extratropical track for current Typhoon
Tokage. This would feed into the WPC Hazards Desk heavy rainfall
threat depicted over Southeast Alaska that extends into next week.
This overall plan maintains good WPC product continuity as
collaborated with local Alaskan NWS forecast offices.
...Sensible Weather and Potential Hazards...
An active weather pattern for Alaska and vicinity is on tap for
this forecast period. There is strong guidance signal indicating
that an amplified/energetic upper low/trough and regenerating
surface lows/frontal systems will shift ample storm focus from the
Bering Sea and southwest/western/Interior Alaska into Saturday to
the Gulf of Alaska and southern/southeast Alaska this weekend
through early-mid next week. This is expected to occur as
additional storm energies consolidate well upstream early-mid next
week from the Bering Sea toward western Alaska. These systems will
all include threats for high winds/waves and heavy
rainfall/mountain snows to spread across the broad region.
Schichtel
Hazards:
- Heavy rain across portions of mainland Alaska, Fri, Aug 26.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and mainland
Alaska, Sat-Tue, Aug 27-Aug 30.
Additional 3-7 Day Hazard Information can be found on the WPC
medium range hazards outlook chart 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