Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
725 PM EDT Thu Sep 21 2023
Valid 12Z Mon Sep 25 2023 - 12Z Fri Sep 29 2023
...Overview and Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
Strong upper ridging in the mid-latitudes of the North Pacific
south of the Aleutians will promote a fast jet stream along and
south of 50N next week, with deep troughing well southeast of the
Gulf of Alaska easing in time. Troughing is favored over
northeastern Russia extending southeastward across the southwest
mainland which will maintain a drier than normal pattern. By the
end of next week, ensembles start to signal a system moving out of
the central North Pacific toward the Aleutians. The guidance was
in good agreement overall with the relatively progressive pattern
west of the Gulf, though the 12Z GFS was a bit strong with a
mid-week wave that arced just south of the central Aleutians.
Preferred the flatter/weaker majority that fit with continuity.
This was led by the 12Z ECMWF with support from the Canadian most
of the time. By the end of the period, the GEFS mean and ECMWF
ensemble mean showed good clustering with low pressure approaching
the Aleutians and perhaps moving into the eastern Bering Sea. The
19Z NBM was a good starting point for the sensible weather grids.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
Little to no rain/snow is expected over the majority of the
interior/mainland this period. Depending on the proximity of the
low southwest of Haida Gwaii, the southern Panhandle may see a bit
more rain early in the week. With the approach of the central
Pacific system, light rain should overspread the Aleutians later
next week. 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