Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
756 PM EDT Thu Sep 7 2023
Valid 12Z Mon Sep 11 2023 - 12Z Fri Sep 15 2023
***Heavy rainfall likely over portions of South-central to
Southeastern Alaska into next week***
...Synoptic Overview...
An upper trough is expected to extend from northwest to southeast
from Siberia into the western Mainland and the Gulf of Alaska
through much of next week, with embedded upper lows. Surface lows
focused in the Gulf directing moisture inland into coastal areas
could lead to multiple rounds of potentially heavy rainfall. The
highest precipitation totals are likely from parts of
South-central into Southeast Alaska.
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
Recent model guidance has persisted in indicating this trough
pattern across much of the state, with the negatively tilted
orientation of the trough possibly allowing some ridging from
western Canada to push into the northeastern part of the Mainland.
Differences become substantial from Wednesday on across the
Bering Sea and the western Aleutians regarding the timing of the
next storm system. The CMC is most out of phase with a ridge
building into the western Bering, whereas the GFS/ECMWF support
more of a shortwave and surface front. By next Friday, the GFS
becomes much stronger with a low developing over the Gulf region
compared to the model consensus. Given the uncertainty of
shortwaves arising from eastern Siberia, confidence is below
average in any particular solution. Thus gradually increased the
ensemble means from the GEFS and ECENS as the period progressed,
ending up to just over half by the end of the period.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
The southeast portion of the mainland and the southeast Panhandle
region will remain rather unsettled for much of next week with
multiple rounds of enhanced moisture advected inland, which will
be associated with low pressure systems over the northern Gulf
region with the potential for an atmospheric river event or two.
Some locations could get 3 to 6 inches of rain over the entire
forecast period, with the greatest totals expected across the
windward terrain of the coastal mountain ranges.
In terms of temperatures, expect readings to generally be slightly
below average across western portions of the state and slightly
above for the eastern Interior to start the week. Going into the
middle to end of the week, warmer conditions are likely across the
northern two-thirds of the state, and slightly below average for
the southern coastal areas owing to increased clouds and rainfall
coverage.
Hamrick
Hazards:
- Heavy rain across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and mainland
Alaska, Sun, Sep 10.
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