Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
659 PM EDT Sun Sep 04 2022
Valid 12Z Thu Sep 08 2022 - 12Z Mon Sep 12 2022
...Heavy precipitation/wind/atmospheric river threat inland from
the Gulf of Alaska to south-central/southeast Alaska and the
Interior Thursday/Friday...
...Bering Sea system threat slated to affect western/southwestern
Alaska next weekend...
...Guidance/Predictability Assessment...
Stream phasing differences in guidance lead into this medium range
forecast period to complicate the expected development of an
energetic Thursday/Friday storm lifting into Alaska, with the 12
UTC ECMWF/UKMET/Canadian and ECMWF ensemble solutions better
clustered with WPC continuity than the GFS/GEFS. The more
amplified solution of the 06/12 UTC GFS/GEFS runs, while in the
minority, is still plausible considering possible downstream
effects from current west Pacific Typhoon Hinnamnor. However,
there is concern with recent run to run continuity issues. That
said, all these solutions show a significant system but vary with
local focus. The WPC medium range product suite was derived mainly
from a composite blend of the 12 UTC ECMWF/UKMET/Canadian and the
19 UTC National Blend of Models for Thursday before increasingly
leaning on the latest ECMWF ensemble mean Friday past next
weekend, added by some added detail via the sister ECMWF
deterministic run. This maintained decent WPC product continuity.
This forecast plan was collaborated with Alaskan NWS weather
offices in Fairbanks, Juneau and Anchorage.
...Sensible Weather and Potential Hazards...
A main emphasis of the forecast past 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. WPC surface progs lift a
deepened low/frontal system well inland from the Gulf of Alaska
into Thursday/Friday along with potential triple point low
reformation. There is a strong forecast signal that this storm
will offer a multi-day southern to southeastern Alaskan to
Interior threat of enhanced rains/winds and mountain snows given
ample upper support, surface organziation and as per a potential
atmospheric river set to focus into southern to southeast Alaska.
Upstream, energetic flow off eastern Asia 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 by
mid-later this week along with an emerging longer time frame
threat of enhanced rain/winds with possible well organized system
approach toward the western mainland through 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