Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
637 PM EDT Fri May 26 2023
Valid 12Z Tue May 30 2023 - 12Z Sat Jun 3 2023
...Synoptic Overview...
A closed upper low over the northern Gulf of Alaska early in the
week is forecast to slowly weaken, while a reinforcing shortwave
dropping south behind it across the Alaska Peninsula will help to
re-establish the closed low again over the same general area of
the Gulf going into the middle-end of the week. Upper level
ridging builds in across the Aleutians and the Bering for the
Wednesday to Friday time period ahead of the next low pressure
system approaching from the general direction of the Kamchatka
Peninsula. Meanwhile, a polar cold front associated with an
arctic trough is forecast to drop south from the Arctic and bring
slightly colder weather for the Brooks Range and points north by
midweek.
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
The 12Z model guidance suite is in good overall agreement on the
main synoptic scale features through next week, with generally
above average confidence through about Thursday for most areas.
Some timing differences become apparent with the 12Z GFS across
the Gulf as the second shortwave builds southward, and it is
displaced to the west of the model by late Wednesday onward, but
generally more agreeable across mainland Alaska. By next Saturday
the CMC differs with a closed low over eastern Siberia that is not
reflected in the other guidance, and it is southeast of the model
consensus with the low across the eastern Gulf. The
fronts/pressures incorporated a general deterministic blend
through Wednesday, followed by slightly less of the GFS/ by
Thursday and less of the CMC by Saturday, whilst increasing
contributions from the ensemble means to about half by that time.
...Sensible Weather and Potential Hazards...
Much of the Southeast and southern coast will likely have ongoing
light to occasionally moderate showers, owing to the slow moving
disturbances over the northern Gulf. However, no areas of
significant rainfall or snow are currently expected for this time
period. Isolated to scattered showers will be possible across
portions of the Interior that will mainly be diurnally driven.
Temperatures will generally be cooler than average for most days
across much of the mainland, with the greatest anomalies expected
across western Interior areas. This will mainly equate to highs
55 to 65 and lows 35 to 45 for most locations. There will likely
be some relatively milder conditions across the northern third of
the state on Tuesday ahead of the cold front.
Hamrick
No significant hazards are expected over Alaska during this
forecast period.
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