textproduct: Juneau

AVIATION

/through 06z Monday/

In the northeast panhandle, a marine layer has begun to enter from the west. PAYA has already dropped to <1/2SM vsby, and will remain in that IFR/LIFR realm through the night. In the morning, it may lift to IFR/MVFR with a cig around or under 1kft, and the introduction of rain for PAYA. The marine layer will not penetrate further inland, leaving clearer VFR skies for inland northern panhandle locales. Stronger winds will stir up on Sunday through Lynn Canal, gusting up to 15-20kts at times.

High pressure continues across the area with clear skies across the interior panhandle and marine layer developing along the coastal terminals, leading to either VFR or IFR/LFR conditions dependent on location. Overnight expecting marine layer to continue to expand, keeping Sitka socked in IFR/LIFR with visibilities as low as a quarter mile and ceilings AoB 300ft. For the southern terminals, thinking Klawock and Ketchikan will join the action a bit later tonight, reaching reaching MVFR or worse by 12z to 15z Sunday morning with CIGs AoB 1000ft and visbys around 2 to 4 sm. Conditions across the southern terminals through 21z Sunday to predominate VFR. Sustained winds across the southern panhandle will remain around 5kts or less through tonight across the SEAK terminals.

MARINE

Outside: Northwest winds continue to impact the coastal waters, with 18z ASCAT passes reporting gentle to moderate breezes. Current sea state is a combination of southwest seas, southerly swell, and northwest wind chop; significant heights of 3 to 5ft and dominant period near 8 to 10 seconds. These northwest winds persist, although should not get much stronger than fresh breezes near and downwind of prominent capes. Seas remain near or below 5 ft, dominated by fresh seas of 8 to 10 seconds. With that said, there is underlying southerly swell at 15 seconds so anticipate some bigger breaking wave action along favorable reefs/breaks near the coast. A commercial fishing vessel reported fog near Cape Edgecumbe, with this threat likely along the coast through the night.

Sunday a low lifts into the Gulf with an accompanying front, with northwest winds beginning to break down, shifting to the southeast. Current forecast favors building winds of strong breezes along Cape St. Elias by Sunday evening, reaching gale force in the early hours of Monday morning. Moving east to the Fairweather Grounds, winds of strong breezes are forecasted, with fresh to moderate winds as you move south toward Cape Edgecumbe and Prince of Wales.

Our summertime mellow sea state gives way to fresh seas, building to near 8 to 11 ft Monday, a warmup for whats to come later this fall as we move into our storm season. Primary threat is for smaller recreational boats operating along our coast.

Inside: Late afternoon sea breezes of moderate to fresh breezes, and a low marine layer, remain the primary hazard into Sunday afternoon. Current forecast favors the highest winds of fresh breezes to impact Cross Sound Saturday afternoon. Late Sunday into Monday southerly winds build across the Inner Channels as a low moves into the Gulf, bringing moderate to strong breezes to many passages along and north of Frederick Sound; highest winds in Lynn Canal. Mariners operating the upper arms of Glacier Bay will likely see southeast winds of moderate to strong breezes quickly shifting to the south. Reid Inlet comes to mind, where folks will often find shelter from these southeast winds only to find themselves exposed to strong southerly winds coming off the Brady Icefield.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...None. MARINE...Gale Warning for PKZ652. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ012-022-053-642>644-651-661>664-671- 672.