Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
429 PM EST Sat Nov 19 2022
Valid 12Z Wed Nov 23 2022 - 12Z Sun Nov 27 2022
...Multi-day Southeast Alaska heavy precipitation and high wind
threat starting by Thanksgiving...
...Pattern Overview...
An amplified upper ridge now over the state will weaken and shift
eastward over northwest Canada into midweek as an amplified upper
low/trough from northeast Russia works across the Bering Sea to
western Alaska. New upstream upper trough amplification out from
eastern Russia coupled with upper ridge amplification up through
the Bering Sea/Arctic will then act to force the sharp digging of
lead northern stream energies down through an unsettled North
Slope/Interior later next week. This will favor a cooling trend
and also sets the stage for significant phasing with ample
southern stream low energies lifting over the Gulf of Alaska to
produce a deep low with long fetch moisture and a heavy
precipitation threat into Southeast Alaska starting around
Thanksgiving and lingering over the holiday travel weekend.
...Guidance/Predictability Assessment and Preferences...
Guidance remains decently clustered with the larger scale flow
evolution through medium range time scales in a pattern with at
least average predictability, but still struggles with the extent
of stream phasing and embedded system focus to lower forecast
confidence with specifics. Prefer best clustered 12 UTC
GFS/ECMWF/Canadian guidance Tuesday before transition to more
compatible 12 UTC GEFS/ECMWF ensemble means by Thanksgiving. This
Alaska office collaborated forecast plan maintains good WPC
product continuity.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
Deep storm development up into the Gulf of Alaska now has a
stronger signal in guidance for a maritime threat and to bring
stormy weather with long fetch moisture to fuel a multi-day heavy
precipitation threat (coastal rain/mountain snows) to focus over
Southeast Alaska starting around Thanksgiving. These amounts will
add to a year-long total at Juneau that may break their yearly
record. Meanwhile, a cold front through western and central Alaska
driven by northern stream upper troughing may also bring some
precipitation in spots, but overall should be light and scattered
in nature. However, strong gap winds could develop into mid-late
week into southern locations in the wake of system passages. Upper
troughing over the North Slope and Interior will favor unsettled
conditions with some localized snows along with modest surface
low/system tracks across the Bering Sea to western Alaska with
overall pattern eastward translation/upper trough approach through
later next week. Late period, there is also an emerging signal for
another deepened low advance toward the Aleutians and southern
Bering Sea over the holiday weekend with upper trough approach,
with downstream upper ridging also supporting renewed digging of
low/system energy over the Gulf of Alaska.
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