Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
719 PM EDT Fri Aug 25 2023
Valid 12Z Tue Aug 29 2023 - 12Z Sat Sep 02 2023
...Multi-system Heavy Rainfall Threat for South-central Alaska
next week...
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
The 12 UTC GFS/ECMWF seem to offer a seemingly reasonable forecast
basis for early-mid next week in an active pattern with increasing
predictability and favorable ensemble support. Forecast spread
increases later next week prompting a transition toward increased
GEFS/NAEFS/ECMWF ensemble means input to maintain max product
continuity in a pattern with near average predictability, albeit
with plenty of uncertainties in the details and timing of
individual systems over time. Manual adjustments were applied as
applicable to maintain/deepen offshore low pressure systems given
favorable support. This seems to provide a reasonable solution
best in line with the amplified flow and also with the expected
stormy ejection toward Alaska of an uncertain but potentially
deepened extratropical low associated with current west Pacific
tropical system Damrey.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
There is a strong signal showing a quite wet and stormy/windy
pattern from the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island through the
Cook Inlet, Kenai Peninsula and Prince William Sound as well as
inland across South-central Alaska into the Alaska Range. A
multi-day heavy rain event will repeatedly focus over the
South-central Alaska and vicinity all next week, extending quite a
wet and unsettled pattern as several deepened lows and deep
moisture plumes feed into the region as channeled between a highly
amplified/closed upper trough position over the Bering
Sea/Aleutians and upper ridging downstream from Southeast Alaska
to the Interior.
Several leading and organized surface lows will rotate/lift out
from the Aleutians and also the northeast Pacific through the Gulf
of Alaska and inland into early-mid next week as fueled by long
fetch moisture plumes/atmospheric rivers in advance of an
amplifying Bering Sea centered upper through. The combination of
moist storms and cumulative affect of multiple systems/rainfall
offers a threat for runoff problems. There is then an upstream
signal that still uncertain system energies from Tropical Storm
Damrey currently in the West Pacific may approach the Alaska
domain next week, potentially as a deepened associated
extratropical surface low to work towards/underneath the
central-eastern Aleutians through by next midweek, then
potentially onward to the mainland into later next week to fuel an
additional heavy rain along with widespread maritime to coastal
wind threats. Otherwise in terms of temperatures, values across
much of the state will moderate closer to normal and above next
week as upper level ridging builds into the region.
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
Hazards:
- Heavy rain across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and southern
mainland Alaska, Mon-Fri, Aug 28-Sep 1.
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