Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
658 PM EST Sun Nov 20 2022
Valid 12Z Thu Nov 24 2022 - 12Z Mon Nov 28 2022
...Heavy precipitation event culminates on Thanksgiving Day over
southeastern Alaska together with high wind threat...
...Pattern Overview...
A strong occluded cyclone curving north toward the Gulf of Alaska
will deliver a heavy precipitation event for southeastern Alaska
forecast to culminate on Thanksgiving Day. Heavy mountain snow
and coastal rain should slowly diminish with time during the
holiday weekend as the cyclone gradually weakens. Thereafter, the
next occluded cyclone appears to be in the offing for western
Aleutians later in the weekend, with possibly a triple-point low
reaching the Alaska Peninsula by next Monday.
...Guidance/Predictability Assessment and Preferences...
The 00Z EC mean as well as the 00Z CMC mean today were a bit
incompatible with the rest of the guidance for the pattern
evolution described above, showing cyclone locations/tracks
significantly farther south of the 06Z & 12Z GFS/GEFS and the 12Z
CMC/CMC mean. The 12Z ECMWF, on the other hand, was much more
compatible with the rest of the model/ensemble guidance. Thus, a
smaller percentage of the 00Z EC mean than usual was used to
composed the 500mb and sea-level pressure field. The 12Z EC mean
appears compatible as well. Thus, the Alaskan grids today were
composed of a blend of the 12Z guidance, transitioning to mostly a
blend of the ensemble means by Days 7-8.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
Deep occluded cyclone will start the medium-range period with a
heavy mountain snow and coastal rain on Thanksgiving Day across
southeastern Alaska. The heavy precipitation 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 early in the
Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Late period, there continues to be
emerging model signal for another deepened low advance toward the
Aleutians and southern Bering Sea over the holiday weekend. A
triple-point low could reach the Alaska Peninsula by next Monday
with the arrival of next round of precipitation.
Kong/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