textproduct: Juneau

LONG TERM

/Wednesday through Saturday/ The ridge over the Gulf of Alaska will move east and build over the panhandle through the day Wednesday and into Thursday. This ridge will be associated with low precipitation totals for most of the area. With the exception being northwest of Cross Sound, where showery conditions will remain in place. A second wave of moisture is expected to reach the northern gulf coast Friday morning. This will bring more persistent precipitation, however impacts will be minimal as there is a 20-30% chance that Yakutat will see more than 0.3 inches of rain.

Impactful winds are not expected through the weekend, but the diurnal cycle could cause breezy conditions in the inner channels. However, when skies are clear and winds lighten, there remains the possibility of isolated fog in the overnight hours, particularly the southern half of the panhandle. Temperatures will gradually increase throughout the week as the ridge moves over the panhandle bringing upwards of 60 degrees in Ketchikan and POW Island. Northern locations will see high 40s and low 50s by the weekend.

AVIATION

Another front passing through the panhandle this morning is bringing some light rain for areas north of Sumner Strait (and occasional IFR vis down to 2.5 miles) and MVFR ceilings (around 1500 to 2000 ft) mainly to the central panhandle and Prince of Wales Island. That front should continue moving east through this morning and weakening with ceilings expected to improve to VFR by afternoon for most areas. Mostly VFR conditions expected to continue into tonight before another weak disturbance moving in from the W will bring more light rain and ceilings down to 1500 ft again late tonight into Tuesday morning for areas north of Sumner Strait (could be some isolated areas of IFR either due to low ceilings/rain or fog development in some areas).

Gusty surface winds to 35 kt continue in northerly Lynn and Skagway/White Pass areas this morning. That is expected to continue into the Monday evening at least before diminishing. Otherwise lighter winds 15 kt or less for most other areas of the panhandle through Tuesday.

MARINE

Outer Waters: Fresh to strong breeze westerlies will prevail into Tuesday evening. Westerly swell looks to slowly build as well, particularly in waters to the south of the 57 degrees latitude line. Wave heights associated with this swell looks to build from 7-8 ft at 8 seconds to 10-12 ft at 14 seconds by this evening.

Inside Waters: Relatively stagnant pattern, with the Icy Strait corridor including Cross Sound and Lynn Canal looks to remain elevated through this evening, with a tight southerly pressure gradient driving much of the flow. Increasing northwesterlies in the southern panhandle to a moderate breeze is expected to keep any fog development away, even with moist conditions and ridging aloft.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...Wind Advisory until 7 AM AKDT this morning for AKZ318. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ012-013-021-022-053-641>644-651-652- 661>664-671-672.