062
FXAK67 PAJK 262230
AFDAJK

Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
230 PM AKDT Sat Jul 26 2025

.SHORT TERM...A near gale force low continues to slide southward
in the gulf, bringing high end small craft winds to northern
coastal waters in the gulf and a band of precipitation that has
largely stayed offshore. The lone area to not dodge this was
Yakutat, which saw light rain start early Saturday morning and
continue into the afternoon hours. This rain will continue to
diminish before pulling out completely along with most of the
cloud cover over the area as the low continues its southward
crawl.

Overall pattern across the panhandle will see general offshore
flow aloft with the low becoming anchored over the southern gulf
Sunday. This will lead to decreasing cloud cover for a majority of
the panhandle, allowing for larger diurnal temperature variations
with cooler minimum temperatures in many areas overnight Saturday,
but also warmer maximum temperatures Sunday. This further clearing
of clouds will also mean areas that saw fog Saturday morning will
likely see it once more, though some drying should limit its
extent Sunday morning. Later on Sunday for the inner channels,
thermal troughing over the interior means sea breezes in the
usual areas. Otherwise winds are expected to remain 10 kt or
less, with the exception of Clarence Strait which could reach
upwards of 15 kts near Dixon Entrance.

All and all a relatively quiet end to the weekend is in store for
the panhandle with relatively warm and dry conditions. For more on
what to expect early next week, see the long term discussion.

LONG TERM...Little changes to the relatively stagnant pattern that is Monday
onwards. The broad closed low, located in the central gulf, looks to
stay in a blocking pattern, with southerly flow aloft directed at
the southern panhandle. Multiple shortwaves will move along this
flow, which will be the primary rainmakers for Tuesday onwards.
While there is high freezing levels associated with the southerly
flow and the depth of the moisture is relatively deep with PW around
an inch coming into the panhandle, not looking at much precipitation
due to lack of significant moisture transport from weak winds. Then,
with the terrain in the panhandle, expecting any higher rainfall
to collapse as it moves into the panhandle from the waves shearing
apart. Highest accumulations look to be on the western coast of
PoW island for this reason, with light accumulation inland. Going
with this idea, currently have much reduced PoPs from about Kake
northward, less than 50% for measurable accumulation in 6 hours.
Consider this to be the story for much of the week, with the only
areas outside of any appreciative rain chances being Haines and
Skagway at less than 20%.

&&

.AVIATION.../Until 00Z Monday/...Most of the Panhandle is starting
out with VFR conditions this afternoon. Some airports along the
Outer Coast are still dealing with a bit of a marine layer that has
pushed into the coast that is giving as low as MVFR conditions.
Light winds & decreased clouds will allow for some more FG
development again late tonight & into the morning for the PAPG,
PAWG, & PAKW areas with CIG & VIS conditions dipping down into the
MVFR/IFR category range. The rest of the Panhandle looks to stay VFR
through the period.

A low over the central Gulf moving southward has frontal bands that
have formed around the low that are increasing the winds off the
Outer Coast. They have been spreading some light rain to the
northeast Gulf Coast into this afternoon. PAYA has been seeing some
light rain today.

Generally, benign SFC wind & LLWS values are in store for the
period. The only thing worthy of noting is that areas that receive
less cloud cover & more warming will see sea breezes, this afternoon
& tomorrow afternoon. The most significant area will be around the
northeastern Panhandle, including PAGY, which will see the strongest
& most gusty sea breeze this afternoon, but other areas in the
Panhandle getting gusty that receive enough insolation is not out of
the question, as well.

&&

.MARINE...
Inside Waters: Due to position of the low far removed from the
outer coast, winds along the inner channels remain relatively
light. Exceptions are some gapflow winds along backside of Douglas
as well as localized afternoon sea breezes which could reach
upwards of 15 kt, as well as southerly flow coming up Clarence
Strait. These winds will diminish into Saturday night, with Lynn
Canal likely becoming light and variable due to drainage winds
coming down the valleys and the overall weak gradient over the
area overnight. Expect more of the same on Sunday, though winds in
Clarence will

Outside Waters: The near gale force low will continue to weaken
Saturday night into Sunday as it slides into the southern gulf and
takes up station there through the end of the weekend. Winds along
the northern gulf will gradually decrease and turn northerly,
while elsewhere southeasterly winds will shift to be primarily
easterly. Area of 10 - 12 ft seas in the northern gulf will shift
southward with the low while subsiding to 8 - 10 ft. Seas will
then further diminish overall as the low in the southern gulf
continues to degrade into Tuesday.

&&

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ644-651-652-661>664-671-672.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...STJ
LONG TERM....NC
AVIATION...JLC
MARINE...STJ

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