textproduct: Juneau

SYNOPSIS

Key Messages:

- Tuesday is expected to see a clearing from north to south, with increased chances of sun and warmer temperatures.

- Showers return late on Wednesday and into Thursday.

LONG TERM

The low impacting the southern panhandle Tuesday will continue to dip south into Wednesday, allowing for skies over the rest of the panhandle to clear out. A broad upper level ridge develops, with the associated surface level ridging positioned to continue onshore flow into the panhandle. Mid level moisture looks to move into the northern panhandle with a shortwave trough on Wednesday night, allowing for light snow in Yakutat and parts of the far northern panhandle Thursday morning. Snow is not really expected to stick for these locations as temperatures remain around freezing, though higher elevation areas and the Klondike and Haines Highways may see up to an inch. This precipitation will be a mix or all rain for the rest of the northern and central panhandle Wednesday, moving into parts of the southern panhandle through Wednesday night into Thursday. Showers are expected to continue until Thursday night, when a more organized front moves into the panhandle from northwest to southeast. This will bring widespread precipitation to the panhandle Friday into Saturday, though QPF remains on the lower side. Again, Yakutat and the northern highways may see snow with this front, though daytime temperatures should only allow for minimal, if any, accumulation. Precipitation is expected to taper down through Saturday, though it may not completely stop until Sunday. The only real wind issue is expected near the typical hot spots from Thursday into Friday as the front moves inland, with Lynn Canal, southern Stephens Passage near Five Finger Lighthouse, and around Point Couverden potentially seeing small craft advisories through this period.

AVIATION

Showers have largely come to an end across a majority of the panhandle Tuesday morning with clearing north of Sitka. Some patchy fog may develop but should quickly dissipate with daytime heating. Some isolated showers remain possible over the next few hours primarily for the southern panhandle, but overall improving trend throughout the day Tuesday.

MARINE

Outside Waters: A general trough extends form the southern panhandle towards Prince William Sound Tuesday as a low over the southern panhandle falls apart. Long, wide fetches with consistent westerly winds look to build seas from 5 ft up to 10-13 ft at 9 to 10 seconds before diminishing slowly Tuesday night.

Inside Waters: A low positioned between Sumner Strait and Frederick Sounds this morning will see this low weaken and slide SE through day falling apart by afternoon. Winds for the northern channels in the 10 to 15 kt range. The southern panhandle winds look to lighter today, although wider portions of Clarence Strait may see a more Southwest direction for the wind.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ641-642-661>663.