Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
623 PM EDT Sun Jun 02 2024
Valid 12Z Thu Jun 06 2024 - 12Z Mon Jun 10 2024
...Guidance Evaluation and Preferences...
Prefer a composite of reasonably clustered 12 UTC GFS/ECMWF/UKMET
models and the 12 UTC GEFS mean in a pattern with near average
predictability. Increased blend weighting of the best compatible
12 UTC GEFS mean by next weekend amid growing forecast spread.
This solution now lifts a deeper storm system northward into the
Gulf of Alaska later this week. This seems reasonable considering
recent flow history within a well defined and energetic upper flow
train already set-up from east Asia and the mid-latitudes of the
Pacific toward Alaska as now shown in water vapor satellite loops.
These types of trends often show a positive signal within the more
predictable first half of medium range time scales, especially
when sensitive data initialization data is over land for upstream
activity which is at least partially the case in this scenario.
The 00 UTC ECMWF ensembles had less support for this solution
compared to most other guidance, but the latest 12 UTC ECMWF
ensembles version is trending a bit more favorably.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
A leading and initially quite wet/moist surface low/system will
steadily lose influence into Thursday while rotating back across
the northern Gulf of Alaska as northern stream upper low/trough
energies dig down through the Bering Sea and eastern Aleutians.
Expect lingering light to moderate rains over southern coastal
areas of the state. Easterly wrapping flow and impulses offer an
additional threat of precipitation inland across
SouthCentral/Alaska Range and into the Interior through late week
followed with continued building of warming upper ridging over the
Mainland. To the south, now expect a deepened storm system will
lift from the central Pacific to the Gulf of Alaska late week into
next weekend as an upstream deepened system now exiting eastern
Asia ejects earnestly across the north Pacific to the south of the
Aleutians and toward the Gulf of Alaska within a dynamic wave
train. The combination of these systems offer multi-day high
wind/wave and heavy rain threats for Gulf maritime interests and
from the Aleutians through SouthCentral to monitor heading into
next weekend.
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