textproduct: Juneau

SYNOPSIS

Key Messages:

- Strong north and northeast winds continue slightly diminishing throughout the day Tuesday. Winds will relax late Tuesday into Wednesday.

- 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 supporting a weather front/trough moving across the northern gulf and will also help to diminish outflow winds for Wed into Fri. The feature will slide southeast along the panhandle, possibly pushing some light precipitation (snow) to the inner channels. Not expecting any significant snow accumulations from the weak system though a few inches is not out of the question especially for the outer coast.

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 starting as early as Friday afternoon or night. This outflow event looks like it will be stronger then the outflow that is currently ongoing with gale force winds being more widespread across the northern inner channels. Lynn Canal might also hit min storm force. With the outflow, temperatures will be cooling down again so freezing spray will be a widespread marine threat again headed into next weekend particularly for the northern inner channels with heavy freezing spray a possibility in Lynn Canal and near Taku Inlet.

AVIATION.../through 12z Wednesday/

Widespread VFR conditions continue with a few areas still holding on to slightly stronger winds this morning. Winds will continue to decrease throughout Tuesday, eventually becoming AoB 10 kts across SE AK. A few areas, including Juneau, Skagway, and Wrangell will continue to see some gusty conditions through the TAF period with infrequent gusts to around 20 to 25 kts. Similar to winds, LLWS will continue to decrease through this morning. An exception to this is Juneau where LLWS is likely to continue into tomorrow with 30 to 40 kt winds around 2000ft.

MARINE

Outside (Gulf and Coastal Waters): Offshore flow from the channels diminishes through the day on Tuesday. Seas are on their way down, with 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, and between 5-9 feet on Wednesday, with the highest seas over the open Gulf. 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 through the daytime hours on Tuesday.

Inside (Inner channels): Tuesday dawns with gale force winds are howling across the northern and central inner channels, along with usual outflow areas. The current forecast maintains sustained winds of strong gale force in Lynn Canal, with widespread gales along and north of Sumner Strait through Tuesday. These winds will generate freezing spray, with moderate to heavy freezing spray for prime areas like northern Lynn and Taku Inlet. Expect winds to slowly diminishing Tuesday night into Wednesday, with moderate to fresh breezes expected Wednesday afternoon 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...Cold Weather Advisory until 6 PM AKST this evening for AKZ318. High Wind Warning until 6 AM AKST early this morning for AKZ325. MARINE...Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ011-012. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ013-031. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ013-053. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ031. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ053. Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for PKZ053. Gale Warning for PKZ011>013-022-643-644-651-663. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ021-031>035-053-641-642-661-662-664- 671-672.