Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
642 PM EDT Fri Sep 09 2022
Valid 12Z Tue Sep 13 2022 - 12Z Sat Sep 17 2022
...Heavy precipitation threat for south-central and southeast
Alaska early to mid next week...
...Guidance/Predictability Assessment...
The 12 UTC GFS/ECMWF/UKMET/Canadian solutions seem reasonable and
well clustered Tuesday into Wednesday from the Bering Sea through
the state into the Gulf of Alaska in amplified/energetic flow, but
forecast spread increases rapidly midweek to next weekend with
uncertain upstream system and stream interactions, including with
a west Pacific tropical connection. The 12 UTC GEFS/ECMWF ensemble
means solutions are in contrast compatible Wednesday into next
Saturday and remain better in line with WPC product continuity at
the cost/benefit of blending out embedded small-mid scale systems
consistent with predictability. This includes a possible late week
low lifting toward the state with a possible tropical origin (93W).
...Pattern Overview and Weather/Hazards Highlights...
There is a strong guidance signal that ample energies associated
with a deep upper level low/surface cyclone in the Bering Sea will
increasingly transfer into the Gulf of Alaska Tuesday into
Wednesday. This will keep much of south-central and southeast
Alaska wet and unsettled. Onshore winds ahead of an occluded
cyclone and cold front moving through the Aleutians and into the
Gulf of Alaska will transport moisture and help focus several days
of rainfall, heavy at times, along the southern Coast and inland,
with heavy snow in the higher elevations. Multi-day rainfall
totals of 3 to 4+ inches are possible. Heaviest rainfall then
should move to the Panhandle, with a lull mid to late next week
across the southern Coast.
Details remain less certain, but there is an emerging guidance
signal that upper level ridging should meanwhile build back across
the Aleutians/Bering Sea in response to approach of an upstream
upper low into Wednesday/Thursday along with a rapidly deepening
surface low/frontal system. This system offers an increased chance
of enhanced rain, winds, and maritime threats offshore and across
the Aleutians. The main threat focus may be enhanced with an
uncertain influx of tropical system/moisture that may be slated to
subsequently work downstream towards Southwest Alaska, the Akpen,
Kodiak Island then across the Gulf of Alaska and into
south-central Alaska Thursday/Friday then the Panhandle by next
weekend.
Schichtel
Hazards:
- Heavy rain across portions of mainland Alaska, Mon-Tue, Sep 12-
Sep 13 and Fri, Sep 16.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and mainland
Alaska, Tue-Wed, Sep 13- Sep 14.
- Heavy rain across portions of mainland Alaska, Fri, Sep 16.
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