textproduct: Juneau

SYNOPSIS

Key Messages:

- High pressure out in the Gulf will bring warm, dry and mainly clear weather into the weekend.

- Daytime high temperatures across the southern panhandle will climb into the mid to upper 70s, with interior locations across PoW Island likely reaching 80s.

- A return to a cooler, more active weather pattern expected by the first half of next week.

LONG TERM

/Sunday to Thursday/ The ridging over the eastern gulf starts to give way on Sunday along a short wave that moves across the northern gulf and central gulf coast to the Northeast gulf coast. Expect to see some light precipitation to spread in followed by a brief break late Monday to Tuesday and then another system to move in Wednesday and Thursday. Continuing precip Friday into the start of the weekend with the onshore flow over the northern portion of the gulf and into the panhandle.

Temperatures continuing to be near normal values for this time of the year. Localized winds along Lynn Canal could lead to some breezy days for Haines and Skagway.

AVIATION.../through Saturday morning/

VFR conditions are expected to prevail through the day Friday. Calm conditions will continue into the early morning as overnight winds have subsided to around 5 kts or less. With the pressure gradient over the region continuing to weaken, clear skies and daytime heating will be the main influence, driving onshore winds up to 15 kts.

Many areas were limited in fog formation overnight, despite calm winds and stable conditions, due to a drier surface layer. Marine layer formation also remained limited due to sustained 15 to 20 kt winds over the offshore waters. However, as high pressure shifts closer and coastal winds ease some, the potential for prolonged VIS/CIG flight impacts will increase. Confidence is increasing for MVFR or lower conditions developing along the NE Gulf coast and extending into the Icy Strait Corridor by early Saturday morning.

MARINE

Outer Waters: High pressure ridge dominates the gulf waters today with the main ridge axis around 145W. That ridge will slowly drift E and weaken into the weekend. Winds are generally out of the W or NW at around 15 kt or less. Seas are likewise somewhat low mostly 7 ft or less with the higher seas in the far SE part of the gulf. Little in the way of change expected through the weekend for either winds or seas even with a slightly higher swell (around 4 ft) coming in from the W over the weekend. Only other concern might be some reduction in visibility due to marine layer low clouds especially on the leading edge of the cloud shield as it moves east.

Inner Channels: Winds in the inner channels are generally light and favor a N or NW direction at the moment. Sea breezes are the main higher wind generator with areas of 15 to 20 kt potentially developing from these circulations over the next few afternoons and evenings, mainly in Icy Strait, Cross Sound, and Northern Lynn. N and W wind direction will continue to be favored over the weekend (exception will be Lynn Canal which will switch to a southerly sometime this afternoon) with speeds of 15 kt or less. Seas will continue to be of 4 ft or less for most areas through the weekend.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...Heat Advisory from noon today to 7 PM AKDT this evening for AKZ328. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ661.