Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
500 PM EDT Wed Oct 02 2024
Valid 12Z Sun Oct 06 2024 - 12Z Thu Oct 10 2024
...Dangerous Extratropical Storm associated with former West
Pacific Typhoon Jebi to offer a High Wind/Wave Threat for the
Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska and a multi-day Heavy Precipitation
and Runoff Threat into Southern and Southeast Alaska this weekend
into next week...
...Overview and Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
Guidance continues to highlight development of a major storm with
high winds/waves from the Bering Sea to the Gulf of Alaska and
multi-day heavy precipitation and runoff threats for Southern to
Southeast Alaska late week into next week. A deep extratropical
low and moisture is associated with former West Pacific Typhoon
Jebi. Prefer a composite of reasonably clustered guidance of the
12 UTC GFS/ECMWF/UKMET/Canadian this weekend and Monday. Pivoted
to the 12 UTC GEFS ensemble mean later period amid growing
forecast spread. The GEFS mean blends best with model trends.
Manual adjustments will ensure sufficient system depth given
closed upper trough support, tropical origins and to offset
weakening inherent to a blending process. This forecast plan
offers detail consistent with average to above normal
predictability and WPC product continuity. The GEFS/ECMWF means
are also more in line with a growing signal in support of another
deepened low track across the Aleutians in about a week to monitor
for strength and specifics. The 12 UTC GFS and ECMWF offer a deep
system compared to the 12 UTC Canadian. Canadian ensembles offer
some deeper low signal.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
Eyes will be drawn to a large and deep storm system entering the
Bering Sea region later in the week, with increasing rain chances
along the West Coast and through the Aleutians into the weekend,
and then through the southern tier of the mainland. Storm force
winds and extremely rough seas are expected over the open waters
of the Bering Sea and into the Gulf of Alaska, with strong winds
likely across the Aleutians and into the AK Peninsula region as
well, with gap wind enhancement. Heavy rainfall (and snow in the
higher terrain) is possible across the southern Coast to Panhandle
this coming weekend, with lingering inflow and focus into
early-mid next week over moistened soils of Southeast Alaska
terrain as guidance lingers the main low and redevelopments
offshore over the unsettled Gulf of Alaska.
In terms of temperatures, cooler than normal highs are likely over
southern parts of Alaska and warmer than normal temperatures are
likely for the northern two-thirds of the Mainland during the
period, with an overall warming trend through the weekend owing to
increased southerly flow ahead of the Bering Sea low pressure
system followed by moderation.
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