Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
738 PM EDT Tue Oct 04 2022
Valid 12Z Sat Oct 08 2022 - 12Z Wed Oct 12 2022
...Heavy precipitation threat for South-central to Southeastern
Alaska through the weekend may return early-mid next week...
...Guidance/Predictability Assessment and Weather/Hazards
Highlights...
The 12 UTC ECMWF/UKMET/Canadian solutions seem best clustered over
the weekend and a composite blend favoring these models seems to
offer a good basis for the forecast. The 12 UTC GFS was also
included in the blend with offering of a less amplified mainland
to Gulf of Alaska upper trough that has some plausibility given
progressive flow upstream. However, the 18 UTC GFS is trending
somewhat more amplified. Regardless, expect a swath of
precipitation and increased wind flow/cooling across the Interior
and northern Alaska with system passage and a multi-day threat for
heavy rains and terrain enhanced snows across south-central and
southeastern Alaska given longer fetch moisture inflow with Gulf
of Alaska system genesis under favorable upper support.
Rain is probable for the Aleutians along with some renewed
enhanced precipitation for the southwest/southern Interior Sunday
into early next week. However, surface system timing and emphasis
differences become more problematic next week in quite energetic
flow. That said, model and ensemble solutions seem to favor a
similar patern evolution aloft into mid-later next week and
highlight development of an amplified trough from the Bering Sea
through the Aleutians. There is a growing signal to monitor for
the tapping of mid-latitude Pacific system energy/moisture that
could fuel another threat for heavy precipitation back into
south-central to southeastern Alaska at these longer time frames.
The WPC medium range product suite derivation relied increaisngly
on the most compatible GEFS/ECMWF ensemble means and manually
applied adjustements to blend output to mitigate some system
weakening inherent to the blending process, mainly for offshore
surface lows given seemingly favorable upper support.
Schichtel
Hazards:
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and
mainland Alaska, Fri-Sun, Oct 7-Oct 9.
- High winds across portions of mainland Alaska, Fri, Oct 7.
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