textproduct: Juneau

SYNOPSIS

Key Messages:

- Outflow winds will continue to ramp up tonight for most inner channels reaching peak intensity by Tuesday morning.

- Temperatures continue to trend down through the week.

LONG TERM

/ Wednesday through Saturday / Upper level ridge moves into the panhandle through Wednesday as short wave advances across the Alaskan Mainland. This trough is support a weather front/trough moving across the northern gulf. The feature will slide southeast along the panhandle, possibly pushing some light precipitation (snow) to the inner channels. Not expecting a significant snow accumulations from the weak system.

After the short wave moves south, High pressure over Northwest Canada will restart the outflow pattern for the Northern inner channels and out of interior valleys of the Northeast Gulf coast. Temperatures cooling down so freezing spray will be a marine threat again headed into next weekend.

AVIATION.../through 0z Wednesday/

VFR conditions prevail through the period with the entire panhandle seeing either clear skies or a few very high clouds drift over. Gusty winds to 30 kts have been occurring for a majority of sites, and is expected to continue through the period as outflow conditions strengthen through the afternoon. Some sites in the central panhandle may see a break in the strongest winds overnight before they pick back up through Tuesday morning. These gusts are also expected to increase to potentially 5 to 10 kts higher than the peak gust each site reached Monday, with the strongest winds in Skagway and blowing through Lynn Canal. LLWS, specifically speed shear of around 30 kts at 2000 ft, continues to be present over multiple sites in the panhandle, especially in areas more susceptible to north to northeasterly outflow or gap winds. Overall, clear but windy conditions are expected to continue through Monday and Tuesday.

MARINE

Outside (Gulf and Coastal Waters): Monday morning winds were light to strong breezes out of the north along the norther coast, with WSW swell at 7 to 10 ft, near 10 seconds. In the central northwest gulf gale force winds were widespread, driving seas of 20 ft, with these fresh seas spreading as far east as Sitka. These northwest winds will diminish Monday night, leaving behind residual NW seas, masking SW swell generated from a system a few days ago south of the Aleutians. Significant heights less than 12ft by Tuesday afternoon. Mariners should be aware of northerly outflow out of major inlets/bays along the northern coast, reaching gale to strong gale force, generating moderate to heavy freezing spray.

Inside (Inner channels): Monday early afternoon outflow winds were continuing to increase with intensity, which will reach their peaks Monday night into Tuesday. Current forecast has sustained winds of strong gale force in Lynn Canal, with widespread gales along and north of Sumner Strait. These winds will generate freezing spray, with moderate to heavy freezing spray for prime areas like northern Lynn and Taku Inlet. Expect winds to continue through Tuesday afternoon before slowly diminishing into Wednesday, with light winds now forecasted through Friday morning. However, Friday evening winds are expected to ramp back up to gale force for most central/northern channels with the threat of heavy freezing spray becoming more extensive.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...Wind Advisory until 3 AM AKST Tuesday for AKZ318. Cold Weather Advisory from 3 AM to 6 PM AKST Tuesday for AKZ318. Wind Advisory until midnight AKST tonight for AKZ323. MARINE...Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ011-012. Gale Warning for PKZ011>013-021-022-031>035-641>644-651-661>664- 671. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ036-053-652-672.