Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
458 PM EST Tue Nov 19 2024
Valid 12Z Sat Nov 23 2024 - 12Z Wed Nov 27 2024
...Wet pattern for western AK and the Aleutians with enhanced gap
winds for a cooled Southeast Alaska...
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
Model spread has grown with the blocking ridge parked near and
south of AK aloft. The ECMWF remains the most aggressive in
knocking it down, albeit temporarily. The guidance change has led
to increased cooling when compared to continuity in central AK.
To account for uncertainty and try to take the edge of the 12z
ECMWF closed cyclone moving through AK, used a composite 12z
GFS/ECMWF/UKMET/Canadian model blend early on before including
some of the 12z NAEFS/ECMWF ensemble mean with time. Most of the
grids are 19z NBM weighted, as usual, though went without
including the 12z ECMWF due to its outlier status with the system
transiting AK early to mid period -- some 12z ECMWF ensemble mean
was blended in with the NBM. The QPF was equal parts
deterministic and NBM.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
Some snow is seen across interior Alaska at times this period as a
cold front and disturbance aloft move by. A warm core high should
shield southern AK from much cooling or precipitation until
another deep cyclone or two approach the Aleutians from the
southwest early to mid next week. As is typical, the coldest
readings will be on the North Slope and eastern interior, though
the eastern interior will see fluctuations due to the frontal
passage. With systems moving through the Aleutians and the Bering
Sea around the west side of the ridge, western AK and in
particular the Aleutians and AK Peninsula should be the wettest
late this week through early next week.
Roth
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