Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
627 PM EDT Tue Sep 19 2023
Valid 12Z Sat Sep 23 2023 - 12Z Wed Sep 27 2023
...Overview and Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
Upper pattern over the high latitudes during the medium range will
feature a very strong (~175kt) upper jet exiting off eastern Asia
late this week and arcing across the Aleutians into a broad trough
well south/southeast of the Gulf of Alaska. To the north,
troughing over northeastern Russia will slowly settle into the
western mainland with leading weak/narrow ridging squeezed into
northeastern Alaska. This favors rather quiet/typical conditions
over much of the 49th state with the storm track near and south of
50N. The troughing digging into the northeast Pacific west of
Washington will spur cyclogenesis and a fairly deep system (PMSL
values nearing minimum values for this time of year per CFSR and
ERA5 climo data around 48N/135W) but with only fringe effects for
the southern Panhandle. 12Z guidance was in good agreement overall
with expected timing/track differences in the handling of weaker
waves along the baroclinic zone just south of the Aleutians. ECMWF
was closer to the ensemble consensus (which was better than
average) than the GFS, but neither was too far removed. This led
to a multi-model/ensemble blend that trended toward increased
ensemble weighting by next week (Days 6-8) for the surface progs.
The 19Z NBM was a good starting point for the sensible weather
grids.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
With near to below average precipitable water values over nearly
the entire state for this period, so will be precipitation for the
period. Little to no rain/snow is expected over the majority of
the interior/mainland, with light precipitation over the Aleutians
eastward across coastal Southcentral. Rainfall will be more likely
over the southern Panhandle as the deep system wraps up southwest
of Haida Gwaii. Temperatures are forecast to be within several
degrees of typical values for late September, with highs generally
in the 40s/50s and lows in the 20s/30s.
Fracasso
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