Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
510 PM EDT Fri Jun 07 2024
Valid 12Z Tue Jun 11 2024 - 12Z Sat Jun 15 2024
...Guidance Evaluation and Preferences...
Ensembles remain in good agreement overall with the upper pattern
over the high latitudes. A respectably deep upper low in the Gulf
to start the period will have already sent its front into/past the
Panhandle and Interior by the start of this forecast (early Tue),
but the upper low will slowly/steadily move eastward toward Hadai
Gwaii by the end of next week, at a pace slightly slower than was
forecast 24 hours ago by about 18-24 hours. Over the Arctic, an
upper high is forecast to build southward over the North Slope by
~Thu next week and continue south-southwestward into next Fri/Sat.
Finally, a system out of the north-central Pacific will attempt to
push toward the western Aleutians but may get deflected eastward
as it runs into the approaching upper high. This system has also
trended slower in the guidance by about a day, likely related to
the overall amplification of the pattern which becomes rather
blocky by next week. A blend of the recent 12Z deterministic
guidance sufficed for days 4-6, followed by a blend of the
GFS/GEFS and ECMWF/ECMWF ensemble mean for days 7-8. This kept
reasonably good continuity, albeit a bit slower in the evolution
than the prior forecast.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
Lingering moisture into eastern/southeastern Alaska early next
week will mostly focus over the Interior, north of the Alaska
Range, within the thermal trough. Some locally modest rainfall is
possible, but the guidance QPF has trended down. Thus, the hazard
areas have been removed. Breezier conditions on the North Slope
Tuesday will subside as high pressure approaches. Over the
Aleutians, there will be an increase in rainfall and wind to at
least the westernmost islands as the system makes its closest
approach around next Friday. Temperatures will be near to below
normal to start the period, trending milder with time to
near/above normal beneath the upper high.
Fracasso
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