Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service College Park MD
759 PM EDT Fri Sep 5 2025
Valid 12Z Tue 09 Sep 2025 - 12Z Sat 13 Sep 2025
...A deep cyclone will bring a round of rain and wind from the
Aleutians to the Southern Coast and Southeast...
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
The main feature of interest through the medium range period will
be a deepening cyclone which is forecast to track near or along the
Aleutians. Since yesterday, global models have shown a significant
shift in the forecast track of the cyclone. This shift has resulted
in a track that brings the cyclone center north of the Aleutians
from yesterday, to one that passes south of the islands today.
This flippant behavior appears to stem from an ongoing
difficulties for the models to resolve the complex interaction
between Tropical Storm Peipah and an upper-level trough currently
moving east of Japan. Model guidance agrees that this cyclone is
not directly associated with the tropical storm vortex itself but
amplifies from a triple-point low associated with extratropical
transition of the tropical storm. In any event, toward the end of
next week, ensemble means are showing good agreement for the
cyclone to slow down as it heads into the Gulf of Alaska.
As a result of the shift in the guidance, today's WPC forecast
package requires a significant southward shift of the cyclone
track through the medium-range period. The model blend comprises
40% of the 12Z GFS/GEFS, 40% of the 12Z ECMWF and 00Z/12Z EC
mean, as well as 20% from the 12Z CMC/CMC mean, with a larger
proportion from the ensemble means toward Day 8.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
The medium-range period will begin on Tuesday with a dissipating
cyclone over mainland Alaska, with a period of snow ending across
the eastern portion of the North Slope as rain becomes more
scattered across the eastern and southern mainland. Meanwhile,
wind and rain associated with the deepening cyclone will likely
impact the Aleutians from west to east across the Aleutians into
the Peninsula through midweek next week. Even though the exact
track of the cyclone remains subject to change, there will be a
good chance for gap winds to develop on the back side of the
cyclone which could extend into late next week as the cyclone
slows down over the Gulf of Alaska.
Rainfall-wise, a more southern track may spare the Aleutians from
the impacts of the heaviest rains from this cyclone. Nevertheless,
moderate to heavy rain is still expected for at least the western
portion of the Aleutians early next week. Along the southern
coastline, heavy rainfall is expected to linger with only a slow
eastward progression toward the northern end of the Panhandle by
late next week. Also by late next week, ensemble means show good
agreement that a weaker low pressure wave behind the main cyclone
will spread the next round of light to moderate rain into the
Aleutians.
Temperature-wise, much of Alaska will trend colder next week
underneath of upper level troughing. Southeast Alaska and the
Panhandle region look to be near or above normal given underneath
of stronger upper level ridging.
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