Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
659 PM EST Wed Nov 08 2023
Valid 12Z Sun Nov 12 2023 - 12Z Thu Nov 16 2023
***Two intense Bering Sea low pressure systems to monitor with
high winds and increasing snowfall chances***
...Guidance Evaluation and Preferences...
The model guidance is in overall good synoptic scale agreement on
the main weather systems of interest, and there is above average
forecast confidence even going into the middle of next week. The
CMC is now more in line with the ECMWF and GFS on the main low
pressure systems, although some timing and mesoscale differences
remain. The low track for the Bering Sea storm is similar overall
compared to yesterday's model runs, although the ECMWF is the
stronger solution. The models are also strongly suggesting a
stronger low to follow behind it, and the guidance suggests it
could take a more southerly track across the Bering with central
pressures possibly into the 955-965 mb range. Ensemble means
accounted for 30-40% of the forecast blend by next Wednesday and
Thursday.
...Overview and Weather/Hazards Highlights...
The overall weather pattern across the Alaska domain is forecast
to remain quite active for this weekend through the middle of next
week, particularly across the maritime regions and the western
coast of the mainland. There will be a weakening surface low
across the northeastern waters of the Gulf Sunday, with a brief
respite before the next low gathers strength in the northern Gulf
Monday night. This low is expected to produce a round of moderate
precipitation from Kodiak Island to the Kenai Peninsula on Monday,
but a greater surge of moisture is expected Wednesday with very
heavy mountain snow and over an inch of rain near the southern
mainland coast.
Things get even more interesting across the Bering and eastern
Siberia with two powerful low pressure systems expected. The
first storm is forecast to track from the Kamchatka Peninsula to
north of the Bering Strait Sunday into Monday afternoon, with gale
to storm force winds south of the low across portions of the
western Bering and far western Aleutians. Although the greatest
impacts are currently expected to remain west of the mainland,
portions of the western mainland coast may be impacted by high
winds gusting over 40 mph, and the potential for elevated tides
also exists. Warm air advection ahead of the storm will likely
bring a period of light to locally moderate snow for portions of
the western mainland Sunday into early Monday, with several inches
of accumulation possible for the some of the Interior valley
locations. An even more impactful storm system is appearing on
the horizon after this first storm departs, taking a track more
southeast compared to the low a few days prior. This would also
produce widespread storm force winds, extremely rough seas, and
coastal flooding problems. Temperatures are generally expected to
be in the 10s to middle 20s for highs across most of the mainland,
and 30s for the southern coastal areas and 40s for the Aleutians..
Hamrick
Hazards:
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Alaska Panhandle and
mainland Alaska, Wed, Nov 15.
- High winds across portions of western mainland Alaska and the
Aleutians, Sat, Nov 11.
- High winds across portions of western mainland Alaska, Sun, Nov
12.
- High winds across portions of western mainland Alaska, Wed, Nov
15.
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