Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
516 PM EDT Sat Aug 31 2024
Valid 12Z Wed Sep 04 2024 - 12Z Sun Sep 08 2024
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
The 12Z model guidance suite shows good agreement with a deep
cyclone becoming reinforced in the Gulf of AK and the northeast
Pacific by a kicker system moving out of Siberia. The guidance
also agrees on an additional cyclone moving from China towards the
Bering Sea next weekend. Since agreement was good, used a blend
of the 12z GFS, Canadian, ECMWF, and UKMET early on before
trending towards 40% of the EC and NAEFS ensemble means late for
the pressures, winds, 500 hPa heights, and to some degree the QPF.
The remainder of the grids were more 19z NBM based.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
A cyclone approaches the southern mainland Alaska coast by late
Wednesday, while its kicker system approaches from the west/Bering
Sea. This will keep conditions wet from South-Central AK into the
AK Panhandle as the mid- to upper-level trough remains more or
less entrenched. A total of 4-8 inches of QPF is in the grids
from Tuesday night into next Sunday across the favored terrain --
not especially unusual for early autumn and reasonably close to
continuity. Gale force winds are expected for the coastal and
offshore waters as the low approaches, which could lead to higher
tides. Storm force gusts can't be ruled out. The incoming low
pressure systems across the Bering may also result in periods of
rain for western mainland Alaska, accompanied by some stronger
winds near the coast. Northern stream shortwaves move through
northern AK, keeping the arctic drape near the Brooks Range and
cooler conditions across the North Slope.
Roth/Hamrick
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