Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
624 PM EDT Fri Sep 02 2022
Valid 12Z Tue Sep 06 2022 - 12Z Sat Sep 10 2022
...Heavy precipitation threat for south-central Alaska by next
midweek...
...Guidance/Predictability Assessment...
The WPC Alaskan Day 4-8 product suite was primarily derived from a
composite blend of reaonably well clustered guidance of the 12 UTC
GFS/ECMWF/Canadian for days 4/5 (Tuesday/Wednesday) before
switching to a blend of the still compatable 12 UTC GEFS/ECMWF
ensemble means for days 6-8 amid growing forecast spread. This
forecast strategy was collaborated with local Alaskan NWS offices.
WPC product continuity was reasonably well maintained in this
manner in a pattern with near normal overall predictability
lowering a bit into longer time frames. Forecaster applied
adjustments to these resultant blends tend to mitigate unwanted
embedded system weakening due to the blend process when upper
support or continuity seemed to mandate as consistent with
predictability.
...Sensible Weather and Potential Hazards...
The lead emphasis of the forecast starting early next week will
concern the evolution of upper trough energies and embedded lows
moving across the Bering Sea along with how it may interact with
North Pacific flow/surface system as amplifying upper troughing
feed development. Expect the Aleutians into the Alaska
Peninsula/western mainland will subsequently see rain and
unsettled conditions develop into Tuesday-Wednesday. WPC surface
progs still bring an organized low/frontal system across the
region that could then strengthen over the northern Gulf of Alaska
next Wednesday-Friday, then exiting into Canada. There is a
growing forecast signal that this low will offer a multi-day
maritime and southern to southeastern Alaskan threat of enhanced
rains/winds/waves and mountain snows. To the north, the overall
pattern with lowered heights and passing upper systems should also
support some scattered areas of mostly light precipitation over
interior portions of the mainland over the period.
Upstream, energetic flow off eastern Asia into early next week to
include the deepened and moist extratropical low associated with
current west Pacific Typhoon Hinnamnor and lead low developments
are subsequently slated to work increasingly eastward into the
Bering Sea, albeit with quite a bit of system evolution
uncertainties given system interations variances in guidance.
System combination and nature offers potential for deep low
development contingent on energy consolidation. Accordingly,
expect a maritime wind/waves threat over the Bering Sea next week
along with an emerging longer time frame threat of enhanced
rain/winds with possible well organized system approach toward the
western mainland heading into next weekend.
Schichtel
Hazards:
- Heavy rain across portions of mainland Alaska, Wed-Thu, Sep
7-Sep 8.
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