Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service College Park MD
604 PM EDT Sat Aug 23 2025
Valid 12Z Wed 27 Aug 2025 - 12Z Sun 31 Aug 2025
...Multi-system heavy rain/flooding/wind threats for Alaska this
week fueled by an atmospheric river with a tropical connection...
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
12 UTC GEFS/ECMWF/Canadian ensemble mean solutions seem very well
clustered through medium range time scales. This portends pattern
evolution and hazards signals with above normal predictability
despite some growth trend in deterministic model forecast spread
of embedded systems. A composite is favored coupled with manually
applied adjustments to ensur sufficient surface system strength
otherwise limited by the blending process. This maintains good WPC
product continuity.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
What has proven to be a persistent closed upper low/trough
position over the Arctic Ocean to the north of the state should
linger well into next week as a pesky mid-upper latitude closed
upper low/trough loses influence over the Gulf of Alaska/Northeast
Pacific. In between, a long fetch of deep moisture and a pooling
wavy frontal system/supporting main upper trough position shift
over the Aleutians/Bering Sea will take aim on West/Southwest
Alaska through at least next midweek, with multi- day
rainfall/flooding and wind threats over coastal areas spreading
broadly inland into the Interior to also affect portions of the
Brooks and Alaska Ranges. This well established atmospheric river
has some connection to the tropical West Pacific. Activity may be
further enhanced and protracted as shortwave energy rotates
through the southern periphery of the Arctic Ocean closed low. A
main axis of heavy rain chances will pivot to become orientated
more Southwest-Northeast over Southwest/west-central portions of
the state. Energy and moisture will become more focused later next week
into the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island, and then especially
with the potential for very heavy rainfall potential into SouthCentral
Alaska, with additional wet flow into the Alaska Range, both with
downstream translation of the supporting closed upper low/trough
and deepened surface low/system and triplepoint low foray into
Gulf waters into mid- later next week. There is an emerging threat
for a surge of high winds into coastal areas/waterways and
farther inland into terrain enhancing gap flows to monitor. More
details about threat focus can be found on the WPC Hazards Outlook
as now produced daily 7X week (linked below).
Upstream...there is quite a growing signal to highlight
development and track of a deep storm across the Aleutians and
into southern Bering Sea heading into next weekend that will pack
high winds and waves and enhanced wrapping rains. This will be a
maritime threat slated to increasingly affect the Mainland later
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