textproduct: Juneau

SYNOPSIS

Key Messages:

- Periods of moderate to heavy rain continue into Monday as a stronger system pushes from west to east across the panhandle.

- Slow drying trend from NW to SE next week; with widespread warmer weather and drier conditions likely late in the week and over the weekend.

LONG TERM.../Wednesday through Sunday/

An area of high pressure will develop in the Gulf of Alaska, and this will lead to onshore flow and a general warming and drying trend for Southeast Alaska. Some cloud cover and shower activity is expected to remain given the onshore flow, and that looks to continue through next weekend.

Thursday night into early Friday, a weak low pressure will become an open wave and bring a chance for scattered showers to the Panhandle. Right now, the system looks to be fairly weak and quick moving. A high pressure system will develop behind this low, and lead to diminishing rain chances and warming temperatures. Highs on Saturday and Sunday look to be in the low 70s with fairly light winds for most, but some stronger winds (15-20 kts) in the eastern Gulf where the high pressure will lead to a tighter pressure gradient.

AVIATION

The main band of IFR ceilings with visibilities 2-4sm in light to occasionally moderate rain ahead of the weakening frontal occlusion moving off the eastern GulfAK continues advancing eastward into southeast Alaska this evening. IFR flight conditions will gradually spread east from the outer coast across Icy Strait towards Haines, Skagway and Juneau this evening, and will continue for Sitka and Yakutat along the outer coast through much of the overnight period before we see some breaks in the widespread rains to MVFR ceilings toward mid morning. For the southern-most areas (Klawock to Ketchikan, Wrangell and over to Misty Fjords, conditions will continue diminish through 04Z as the main band of rain moves in from the west...with lower conditions expected through at least late morning.

MARINE

Outside (Eastern Gulf and Coastal Waters): Improving Conditions after Sunday night, as a front moves east and into British Columbia by Monday. Current SE flow along the coast will weaken and turn out of the NW through Monday and Monday night. Winds will diminish down towards 10-15 kt, with seas likewise subsiding from 9-12 ft down towards 5-7 ft. By Tuesday, flow turns more W, with winds remaining around 10-15 kt. Swell will remain out of the S through the first half of the week, although the Sunday afternoon heights of 4-8 ft will diminish to 2-3 ft Monday and Tuesday.

By Thursday into Friday, a strengthening low level ridge will bring NW flow in the SE Gulf and Dixon Entrance up to 20-25 kt.

Inside (Inner Channels): Winds are increasing as an advancing system results in winds turning out of the S and ramping up to 15-20 kt through the remainder of the Sunday. On Monday, winds will slowly diminish back towards 10-15 kt (still out of the S), and the system departs Southeast Alaska into British Columbia. Winds will continue to diminish down to 5-10 kt for most locations on Tuesday, with the exception of Lynn Canal (which will see S wind of 15-20 kt), and Clarence Strait (NW wind 10-15 kt).

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ036-053-641>644-651-652-661>664-671- 672.