Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
746 PM EDT Mon Jun 19 2023
Valid 12Z Fri Jun 23 2023 - 12Z Tue Jun 27 2023
...Emerging heavy rain threat for Kodiak Island and South-Central
Alaska by later this weekend...
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
The 12 UTC GFS/UKMET solutions seem best clustered with GEFS/ECMWF
ensembles and WPC continuity valid for Friday and Saturday,
forecast spread has increased compared to the last few days. This
incrreasingly over time lends preference for still quite
compatible GEFS/ECMWF ensemble means that were used for the
Sunday-next Tuesday in a period with slowly but steadily
decreasing predictability. Moderate adjustments were manually
applied, primarily to offshore low pressure systems, to offset
inherent weakening from the blending process to ensure sufficient
depth given still likely favorable upper support despite growing
uncertainties.
...Pattern Overview and Weather/Hazards Highlights...
A strong closed low/amplified trough aloft and surface focus over
the North Slope and the adjacent Arctic Ocean should along with
weather focus eject eastward and away by Friday. Expect adjacent
areas down through the northern Interior will experience unsettled
conditions including lingering winds and precipitation.
Meanwhile, an energetic/active storm flow from eastern Asia and
the western Pacific will continue to churn up additional low
pressure systems to include deepened storm tracks toward the
Aleutians and southern Bering Sea as a protracted maritime threat
this week and into next week. This offers potential for a
protracted periods of high winds/waves and wrapping enhanced
rains. Enhanced winds and rains should work steadily but slowly
eastward, and increasingly this weekend into early next week to
southwest/western Alaska and the Interior, but especially with
deeper moisture underneath with additional triple point low focus
into Kodiak Island and South-Central Alaska where there is a
threat for heavier rainfall. Kodiak Island may also be prone to
runoff/rockslide issues to monitor in this pattern. Activity
should be slow to work eastward toward Southeast Alaska as
partially shielded by ambient/amplified eastern Gulf of Alaska to
Interior to Southeast Alaska upper ridging.
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