Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
456 PM EDT Sat Sep 03 2022
Valid 12Z Wed Sep 07 2022 - 12Z Sun Sep 11 2022
...Developing Gulf low to focus a heavy precipitation threat
inland into south-central to southeast Alaska mid-later next
week...
...Emerging Bering Sea low threat next week could reach the
mainland by next weekend...
...Guidance/Predictability Assessment...
Broadly speaking, despite complexity the latest models and
ensemble means offer a reasonably similar upper flow evolution for
the Alaskan domain through medium range time scales. Forecast
uncertainty takes a hit though as there are however differences
and continuity issues with potent embedded surface systems/stream
energy phasing into Wednesday, especially with low development to
the south of the Aleutians as well as with the deepened
extratropical low track from current west Pacific Typhoon
Hinnamnor. Prefer a composite blend of the initially not that well
clustered solutions of the 12 UTC GFS/ECMWF/UKMET/Canadian for
days 4-6. The 12 UTC ECMWF/Canadian components of this blend act
to trend WPC continuity slower with system development to the
south of the Aleutians midweek, more consistent with amplified
flow, but all the models tend to catch up with low
consolidation/WPC continuity shortly thereafter. Accordingly, this
blend then seems reasonable into Thursday/Friday. The 12 UTC
UKMET/GFS seem to be more in line with and as an extension from
the latest official track forecast of Hinnamnor into
Wednesday/Thursday, but again and for somewhat different reasons,
these models solutions return more back in line with the
ECMWF/Canadian over the Bering Sea Thursday/Friday, again allowing
for the composite to be used as a forecast starting point (before
manual adjustments) that is also generally in line with WPC
product continuity. Forecast spread increases into day 7/8 seem to
support a switch to the 12 UTC GEFS/ECMWF ensemble means.
...Sensible Weather and Potential Hazards...
A main emphasis of the forecast into next midweek will concern the
evolution of upper trough energies and embedded lows digging from
the Bering Sea to the south of the Aleutians along with how they
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 enhancing
rains and unsettled conditions by 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 interaction 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
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