Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service College Park MD
748 PM EDT Mon Sep 1 2025
Valid 12Z Fri 05 Sep 2025 - 12Z Tue 09 Sep 2025
...Windy with locally heavy rain across the Aleutians Friday into
Saturday followed by a round of widespread moderate rainfall
across the Southwest and western Mainland Sunday into Monday...
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
For late this week (Thu-Fri), the ECMWF has been indicating a
deeper cyclone to track northward from the eastern Aleutians
through western Alaska in contrast to the GFS and CMC which show a
more elongated and weaker wave to track farther east and
dissipate over central mainland Alaska. Regarding the next cyclone
in its wake, model agreement appears quite good regarding its
predicted depth and track for a Day 4-6 forecast--the GFS is on
the slower side, CMC on the faster side, and the ECMWF near the
middle by early on Sunday when the cyclone center is forecast to
make landfall on the west coast of mainland Alaska. The track of
this cyclone across western Alaska is rather similar to its
predecessor as forecast by the ECMWF. As the cyclone weakens over
mainland Alaska Days 7 and 8 (Mon-Tue), there is good model
signal for the next cyclone to approach the western Aleutians.
There is considerable model spread regarding the track and
intensity of this system. The operational GFS favors a much
stronger system while its ensemble mean as well as both the ECMWF
and CMC and their ensemble means favor a weaker low center
skirting just south of the Aleutians early next week.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
A predominant storm track from the Aleutians toward western
Alaska will continue to bring active weather with frequent rounds
of wind and rain across these areas through the forecast period.
As the ECMWF indicates a stronger cyclone with a track farther to
the west regarding the first cyclone, there appears to be a good
chance for moderate to heavy rain to spread farther west across
the Brooks Range compared with the weaker and farther east
solution from the GFS. Portions of the Alaska Range could receive
heavier amounts from this system as well.
The next cyclone in line appears to be stronger than its
predecessor, and will bring a higher threat of gale force winds
with moderate to possibly heavy rain Thu-Fri through the Aleutian
Islands before bringing widespread moderate rainfall and windy
conditions into western Alaska Sunday into Monday. As the system
pushes farther inland, it appears to present another opportunity
for the threat of heavy precipitation to affect the western
portion of the Brooks Range early next week. Meanwhile, there is a
good model signal for the next cyclone to reach the western
Aleutians early next week, with the ensemble means favoring a
weaker system than its predecessor, and with more modest
precipitation amounts spreading into the Aleutians.
The southern periphery of the first two systems is forecast to
bring a couple rounds of moderate to locally heavy rain for the
southern coastal sections such as Kodiak Island. There appears to
be little to no rain to speak of farther east across all of the
Alaska Panhandle until perhaps by late Monday next week. With the
prevalence of clouds and rain, cool daytime temperatures are
expected across southwestern Alaska. Otherwise, somewhat warmer
than normal conditions are expected for the eastern part of the
state especially the Panhandle, the North Slope, and portions of
the Alaskan Peninsula through early next week.
Kong
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