Alaska Extended Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service College Park MD
747 PM EDT Sun Sep 14 2025
Valid 12Z Thu 18 Sep 2025 - 12Z Mon 22 Sep 2025
***Heavy rain and gale force winds expected from the Kenai
Peninsula to Southeast Alaska***
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
The 12Z model guidance suite initially has a good overall
depiction on the overall weather pattern across the domain, but
mesoscale and timing differences increase especially across the
north Pacific and the Gulf going forward into the weekend and next
Monday. The tricky part of the forecast is triple low formation
and how they interact with the main upper level low that will be
situated over the northern Gulf. A general deterministic model
blend suffices as a good starting point for Thursday. The ensemble
means were gradually increased to about half by next Monday.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
Expect a continued series of deepened low pressure systems late
this week and into next weekend to bring high winds across the
Aleutians/Southern Bering Sea, and then moderately impact
Southwest Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula. Guidance signals are
growing in support for the deepest moisture plumes to focus repeat
periods of moderate to heavy rainfall and high winds from Kodiak
Island to especially the Kenai Peninsula/South-Central Alaska and
Southeast Alaska.
Several inches of rainfall are likely from the Kenai Peninsula to
Southeast Alaska as multiple surges of moisture move into the
region, with the highest totals across the windward terrain from
the St. Elias Mountains to near Sitka. Strong winds of gale force
are likely for the near shore waters owing to enhancement of the
coastal barrier jet for these same general areas, with the
highest winds expected on the 18th. In terms of temperatures, a
gradual cooling trend is expected to commence across the mainland
as a polar front slowly sinks southward throughout the period.
Hamrick
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