Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
505 PM EDT Sat Aug 26 2023
Valid 12Z Wed Aug 30 2023 - 12Z Sun Sep 03 2023
...Multi-system Heavy Rain Threat for Southern/Southwest Alaska
next week...
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
12 UTC GFS/ECMWF/UKMET/Canadian solutions have become better
clustered Tuesday to Thursday in an active pattern with above
normal predictability and good ensemble support. Forecast spread
increases later next week led to a switch to still compatible
GEFS/NAEFS/ECMWF ensemble means to mitigate error and maintain max
product continuity as predictability lowers toward average levels
with pattern transition to less amplified and more progressive
flow.
...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 leading
into and through early-mid next week. A multi-day heavy rain event
will repeatedly focus over the South-central Alaska and vicinity,
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 ample/shielding/warming upper ridging
downstream from Southeast Alaska to the Interior. In this period,
tandem deepened surface systems will rotate/lift inland out from
the Aleutians and also the northwest Gulf of Alaska as fueled by
long fetch moisture plumes/atmospheric rivers. The combination of
moist storms and cumulative affect of multiple system rainfall
offers a threat for local runoff/mudslide concerns.
There is then a growing upstream signal that system energies and
deep moisture from Tropical Storm Damrey currently in the West
Pacific are slated to breach Alaska mid-later next week,
potentially to include a deepened associated extratropical surface
system forecast to work through the Aleutians then onward across
much of the mainland to fuel and spread steadily eastward over
time heavy rains and unsettled conditions.
All these systems are also expected to enhance maritime to coastal
winds and waves. Expected system/upper trough progression robustly
across the mainland by next weekend would allow significant height
falls to work downstream through aforementioned lead/ambient upper
ridging leading to a less amplified pattern.
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