textproduct: Juneau

SYNOPSIS

Key Messages:

-Warmer and drier conditions to start the week before more light rain moves in and spreads throughout the panhandle midweek.

-Winds and seas increase out in the Gulf and along the N Gulf coast Monday night into Tuesday as the next front pushes into the region.

LONG TERM.../Wednesday through Saturday/

A front is expected to push into the area Wednesday morning extending from a low in the Bering Sea. This front will move northeastward across the panhandle, with between 0.2 and 0.5 inches of rain expected to fall across the area through the day Wednesday. This generally weaker front will not bring up the winds much across the panhandle as it passes through, with the winds over land areas largely staying below 15 kts through the long term period.

As the low lingers in the western Gulf of Alaska and weakens, onshore flow will continue to bring less organized rounds of precipitation into the panhandle. These showers will follow behind the front and last through the day Thursday as shortwaves rotate around the low aloft. The surface and upper level troughing will begin to dig southeastward near the coast of B.C. as some ridging develops over the Aleutians and north Pacific along with the high pressure building over the panhandle, keeping much of the shower activity more southward with more of a break in weather for the northern half of the panhandle Friday. The next system will begin to move in from the west Saturday night, bringing another front through the area into Sunday.

AVIATION

A ridge of high pressure is building in from the South across the Alaska Panhandle. VFR conditions are forecast for most TAF sites this evening. The scattered showers that moved across the area this afternoon should dwindle as the sun sets across the area.

On the north side of the ridge, a shortwave passing over is bringing some mid-to-high level clouds in from the southwest. These clouds may have some rain, but at the very least they will likely limit radiational cooling tonight and thus the chance for fog should be rather low. A secondary disturbance passing through the area tomorrow will bring some rain chances to Sitka, Gustavus, Juneau, Yakutat, Haines and Skagway.

MARINE

Outside (Gulf and Coastal Waters): An approaching frontal band will bring increasing southeasterly winds and seas through the Monday night into Tuesday. Along the coast to the west of Icy Bay, winds turn more easterly and increase to to near-gale force with periods of low-end gale force winds by Tuesday morning. Waves will increase following the winds, becoming 6 to 10 ft with the far northern gulf seeing up to 13 ft into Tuesday. The higher winds and seas associated with this front will steadily diminish Tuesday night, becoming relatively benign by Wednesday as the front weakens and pushes inland.

Inside (Inner Channels): Some fresh southerlies with occasional strong gusts continue into Monday evening through Northern Lynn Canal and Taiya Inlet as the south to north gradient remains, although weaker than yesterday. Otherwise, generally benign sea conditions through the period. Seas and winds will jump slightly across the inner channels on Wednesday as the front pushes inland, but should remain should remain below small craft criteria.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ651-652-664-671-672.