textproduct: Juneau

SYNOPSIS

Key Messages:

- Skies clear through Saturday across the interior with widespread dry conditions persisting through the weekend, high temperatures into the 70s expected. Get outside and enjoy!

- Increasing forecast confidence of another round of warm temperatures early next week, especially across the southern panhandle.

LONG TERM.../Monday through Thursday/

The week starts out warm with the chance for seasonably higher temperatures across the southern panhandle. Mid to high 70s are likely, with guidance indicating Hyder as the warmest location. With guidance continuing to indicate a set up favorable for warm temperatures, it will likely come down to local effects from a marine layer and cloud cover to downsloping and wind speeds. Wednesday looks to be warm as well, but high temps are expected to be in the lower 70s. Through the start of the week, no rain is expected except for along the NE gulf coast overnight Monday into Tuesday as a week front breaks apart across the area. Thursday then brings the chance for rain back into the equation for the northern panhandle as an area of low pressure moves across the northern gulf.

AVIATION.../through 12z Sunday/

A weak front aloft is currently moving over the panhandle, exiting into Canada by late this morning. As it moves across, occasional MVFR conditions primarily for the southern half of the panhandle due to CIGs AoA 2500 ft. As this front moves off, clearing and VFR conditions are expected to return to much of the panhandle, with gusty sea breezes near Skagway, Ketchikan, and possibly Petersburg. Along the coast is a different world, with IFR and lower conditions this morning due to a marine layer moving into the area. As temperatures heat up, this layer is expected to retreat; however, a resurgence is possibly tonight; although timing and cloud height is uncertain at this time.

MARINE

Inside waters (Inner Channels):

With clearing skies in the inner channels, low pressure in Canada, and high pressure with a marine layer in the gulf, sea breezes and stronger thermal gradients will be the general flow for the next few days. Westerly breezes up to 25 knots in Peril Strait, Icy Strait, backside of Douglas Island will follow slightly delayed diurnal trends. Similarly in the southern half of the panhandle, northwesterlies up to 15 knots will persist in a diurnal trend.

Outside (Gulf and Coastal Waters): High pressure is to build in the Gulf of Alaska through Saturday, and remain over the area well into next week. Therefore, persistent northwesterlies along the coastline up to 20 knots will continue. Highest wind speeds are expected south of Cape Edgecombe, with wave heights possibly exceeding 8 ft by monday due to the persistent stronger winds and fetch length. Currently not represented in the forecast, as confidence is not high enough for persistent 20 knot winds. With these wind waves largely dictated by the wind speed, and confidence is not high enough, small craft advisories were not issued yet. Furthermore, expecting mostly good visibility greater than 2 miles, as the marine layer looks to remain around 1000 ft or greater.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

PUBLIC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ021.