textproduct: Juneau

LONG TERM.../Saturday through Tuesday/

A general drying trend is currently expected to grace the panhandle through the weekend and to start off next week. The exception to this pattern is Yakutat, where a slight chance of rain is likely to remain in place. Overall clearer, more sunny skies are anticipated to emerge by Sunday, increasing the potential for warmer temperatures across the panhandle. Models are indicating warm upper level temperatures over Canada and winds that are oriented more offshore, especially in the southern panhandle. This brings the potential for temperatures in Hyder, Ketchikan, and across communities on POW Island to reach heat advisory criteria. Winds through this period are expected to be highly pressure gradient driven, especially in Lynn Canal (southern flow) and Clarence Strait (northern flow), with gusty conditions in Skagway. There could be some sea breeze component at play here as well that is typically seen on sunnier and warmer days. Otherwise, the wind is likely to be light and variable through this period.

AVIATION

We continue with overcast conditions for the most part over the northern 2/3rds of the Alaska Panhandle as a weak front moves across, with MVFR ceilings and patchy rains many areas and VFR for Skagway and Juneau. Down south, we note mostly clear skies at or below 10,000 ft AGL, however we do see a MVFR deck at or just below 2,000 ft agl of marine layer stratus working in from the west this afternoon that will likely overspread much of the southern Panhandle this evening and overnight. So, the aviation outlook for most of the Panhandle has mostly MVFR ceilings 1,500-2000 ft agl after sunset and into tomorrow morning, although the precipitation coverages will go down. By Thursday afternoon, most of the morning MVFR ceilings should start to lift to VFR. 05/Garmon

MARINE

Outside (Gulf and Coastal Waters): Winds across the Gulf are expected to remain light to gentle breezes going into tonight. As high pressure builds into the Gulf, winds will start to shift to more of a W-NW wind across the Gulf before starting to increase from Cape Decision down to the Dixon Entrance. These winds could start to increase to strong breezes especially closer to Dixon Entrance. For wave heights, seas should be around 6 ft this evening before diminishing going into tomorrow during the afternoon. Waves could get closer to 5-7 ft along Cape Decision down to Dixon Entrance with the increased wind speeds but the rest of the Gulf should remain around 4-6 ft going into the weekend. The next low to impact the area moves into the Western Gulf Friday into Saturday bringing fresh to strong breezes.

Inside (Inner Channels): Across the Inner Channels this afternoon, winds continue to remain light for most locations. The area seeing the strongest winds at this point appears to be Lynn Canal with Eldred Rock reporting wind speeds around 20 kt. These winds are expected to diminish through the overnight hours tonight into tomorrow morning. For the rest of the Inner Channel water ways, winds should remain around light to gentle breezes. Clarence Strait should see winds increase going into Thursday as NW winds increase up to fresh to strong breezes.

HYDROLOGY

A glacier lake release continues on the Salmon River near Hyder this afternoon with river levels still rising at the time of writing. Due to the unknown volume of water in Summit Lake, it is unknown when an exact crest will occur. With the release having started around July 13th, a crest could be sooner rather than later. The only known impacts with this release will be an elevated river, colder than normal water temperatures and potential debris in the water such as trees.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...None. MARINE...None.