textproduct: Juneau

SYNOPSIS

-A Gale Force Front advances through the panhandle on Wednesday, departing on Thursday.

-Lingering rain showers, heaviest over the northern half of the area, through the remainder of the week

-A weak front moves across the north on Friday, with a low moving across south/central SE AK beginning Friday night.

LONG TERM

/ Saturday to Wednesday / Weather front that is weakening and falling apart will finish moving through the panhandle Saturday as the parent low for it was still over Eastern Bering Sea. A broad surface ridge over the eastern pacific is nosing into the southern Gulf of Alaska , but as a result, energy will continue to run over the top and through the Gulf. Showers will continue Friday and into Saturday. Low runs across the southern Gulf of Alaska and passing to the south of Haida Gwaii Sunday afternoon/evening. The rain shield extends north into the southern panhandle. Meanwhile a chance of showers/rain will continue.

After the low passes by, there should be some clearing over the northern Panhandle and NE Gulf coast and working way to the southern panhandle during the late Sunday into Monday afternoon. Right now have low chance of rain for the southern panhandle late Monday.

The next weather system moves into the eastern gulf and then the panhandle area Tuesday and a slow moving system that could see a secondary trailing wave for the Wednesday.

AVIATION

/through 00z Friday/ MVFR to VFR flight conditions with rain ongoing across the panhandle terminals this afternoon as an unseasonably strong front tracks into the NE Gulf. Flight conditions have deteriorated through the afternoon to predominate low-VFR/MVFR with CIGS AoB 3500ft, with isolated IFR conditions due to visbys along the Gulf coast terminals of PAYA and PASI. Anticipating MVFR to IFR flight conditions to persist overnight as front tracks inland and in its wake, with a slow improvement near the end of the TAF period, after 18z Thursday.

Sustained winds increase through the afternoon 10 to 20kts with gusts up to 30kts possible for terminals along the coast, and along and north of the Icy Strait Corridor, including Juneau. LLWS potential highest along the coast for PAYA and PASI through the afternoon, with SE-ly winds around 40kts, diminishing to around 30kts near 2kft across the interior panhandle.

MARINE

Outside (Gulf and Coastal Waters): A gale force front continues to approach the Gulf waters this afternoon with gale force winds from Cape St. Elias down to the Fairweather Grounds ongoing. Behind this front, strong westerly breezes are expected and should persist through tonight before diminishing tomorrow morning. With this front, wave heights are expected to build to 12-17 ft across the Gulf waters before decreasing to 9-12 ft this evening with a southwesterly swell component. Headed into Thursday, winds across the Gulf are expected to be closer to moderate to fresh breezes from the west. Wave heights during this time are also expected to drop to around 5-7 ft.

Inside (Inner Channels): Winds continue to gradually increase this afternoon across the inner channels as a gale force front pushes into the NE Gulf coast, bringing wind speeds of strong breeze to near gales for the portions of the inner channels like Lynn Canal, Stephens Passage and winds up to fresh breeze widespread. With these increasing winds, waves are expected to increase to 3-6 ft with higher seas expected near ocean entrances. Behind the front, winds are expected to diminish down to moderate to strong breezes as in tandem with diminishing seas. Brief period of high pressure moves across the panhandle tomorrow with cloudy skies and light winds 10kts or less expected by Thursday afternoon across the majority of the inner channels, outside of N Lynn which will continue to see elevated winds near 20 to 25kts.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...Wind Advisory until 8 PM AKDT this evening for AKZ317. Wind Advisory until 1 AM AKDT Thursday for AKZ318. Wind Advisory until 7 PM AKDT this evening for AKZ323-327. MARINE...Gale Warning for PKZ644-651-652-663-664-671-672. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ011>013-022-031>034-053-641>643-661- 662.