textproduct: Juneau

UPDATE

The wind advisories for the far southern panhandle, including Prince of Wales Island, Annette Island, and Ketchikan, were extended into Friday morning due to continued wind gusts around 40 to 50 mph. Additionally, a wind advisory has been issued for the Skagway area as winds will increase Friday morning as the low pressure system moves northward. These winds are likely to remain through the day for Skagway as the rest of the panhandle will see winds diminish through the day.

SYNOPSIS

Key Messages:

- A broad area of low pressure with storm force winds on the eastern edge over the eastern Gulf of Alaska and portions of the Central/Southern Alaska Panhandle continues moving slowly north tonight.

- Impacts to aviation and marine travel expected through tonight over the eastern Gulf of Alaska and the southern 2/3rds of the Alaska Panhandle.

LONG TERM

/ Sunday to Friday / Sunday continues to look like it will be part of the break between weather systems tracking over the gulf and into Panhandle and Canada. The system early Sunday will into the British Columbia south of the Panhandle. The issue the right is that the low to roll in on Monday is appearing to be a significant low into the lower 960s. Strong winds the will likely be Storm force and possibly High wind or wind advisories for a portion of the southern and central panhandle. Also since the low will be pulling out of the central Pacific, so expect that there will be some moderate to heavy rainfalls But Will probably not have any flooding issues with the Monday system WInds and rains to increase then improve through Tuesday.

AVIATION.../Through 06z Saturday/

A strong low pressure system remains over the gulf bringing rain and strong winds over the area. Currently the far southern panhandle continues to have the strongest winds with gusts around 45 mph. These stronger winds will continue into early Friday morning before diminishing. Then as the low continues to move northward, winds will increase once again across the central and northern panhandle. Strongest winds will once again be over Sitka and then over the Haines and Skagway area. Wind will last the longest over Skagway lasting through the TAF period as the low moves inland and fills. A few southern areas continue to have LLWS over the area, but most LLWS is anticipated to dissipate Friday morning.

Ceilings and visibilities will continue to remain around MVFR to VFR conditions. Similarly to throughout Thursday, visibilities on Friday will continue to fluctuate between 4 to 6 SM due to rain showers. Similarly ceilings will be around 2000 to 3500 ft. Showers will become more persistent as we head into Friday morning. This means that conditions are more likely to lean toward VFR, but continue to expect those times of lowered conditions.

MARINE

Outside (Gulf and Coastal Waters): The low that has been impacting the area continues to move across the Gulf and coastal waters this afternoon. This low has been bringing gales and storm force winds to the area but conditions have weakened somewhat. Gales will continue to impact the Gulf and coastal waters tonight into tomorrow as the low center moves to the north and west. Gales are expected along the backside of the low before conditions start to improve as it moves towards Cook Inlet. A brief break in the winds is expected Saturday before the next system moves closer to the area for Sunday. This second low is expected to pass near Hecate Strait and Dixon Entrance with the strongest winds currently expected to stay in the far southern fringes of the coastal waters. Combined seas will continue to be elevated this evening into tonight as the Cape Edgecumbe buoy is currently reporting 23 ft seas. Seas will start to diminish as the low moves to the west but will still remain around 10-17 ft going into early Saturday. By Saturday morning, wave heights are expected to drop down to around 10 ft. But this will be ahead of the next system that moves past the area for Sunday.

Inside (Inner Channels): Conditions across the Inner Channels this afternoon continue to be locations dependent with the low and associated front moving north across the area. Winds are expected to remain strong through the evening hours before winds start to diminish during the overnight hours as the low moves farther to the north and west. The northern panhandle will likely see increasing winds though as the winds switch from north to south. Headed into Saturday, conditions look to improve ahead of the next low that moves close the panhandle but is currently expected to remain near Dixon Entrance. With the next low remaining to the south, winds are expected to switch to the north and increase.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...Wind Advisory from 6 AM Friday to 6 AM AKST Saturday for AKZ318. Wind Advisory until noon AKST Friday for AKZ323. Wind Advisory until 3 AM AKST Friday for AKZ328-330-332. MARINE...Gale Warning for PKZ012-013-022-031>036-641>644-651-652-661>664- 671-672. Small Craft Advisory for PKZ011-021-053.