166
FXAK67 PAJK 031315
AFDAJK

Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
515 AM AKDT Thu Apr 3 2025

.SHORT TERM.../Through Thursday night/

Key Messages:
- Another dry day is ahead for SE AK.

- Light winds continue across the panhandle and marine waters
increasing Thursday afternoon.

- A strong system brings Gale force winds to the Gulf of Alaska and
the coast late Thursday night into the weekend.

Details: An upper level ridge continues to keep the panhandle dry
before a strong low in the gulf increases winds and precipitation
Friday. For Thursday, similar to the start of the week, high
temperatures will be in the 50s, wind speeds will remain light, and
cloud cover will remain minimum. This will all start to change late
Thursday night into Friday.

As a strong low continues to approach the gulf, an associated front
will increase winds and wave heights in the gulf late Thursday.
Southeasterly gales will develop along the front as it approaches.
These stronger wind speeds will continue to move toward the
panhandle through Friday. Along with increased winds, noticeable
cloud cover and rain will be associated with the front. This active
weather will then continue through the weekend. See the long term
forecast discussion for more information.

.LONG TERM...The deep low forming in the gulf is currently moving
northeast with models dropping as low as 970mb as the front
reaches the outer coast. A weak atmospheric river will provide
plenty of moisture to help fuel this system and bring an end to
the nice weather we`ve been experiencing. This front will be
accompanied by strong gales and sea heights possibly exceeding 18
ft off the coast in the eastern gulf. This system is expected to
bring elevated winds to the inner channels, with the potential for
gales near channel entrances. Temperatures will continue to rise
through this system before slowly falling through the next week.
Precipitation associated with this system will impact the
panhandle through Saturday peaking overnight into Sunday and
lingering through the beginning of the week. The northern and
central coastal regions will experience the onset first, as well
as the highest accumulated amounts as the front moves eastward.
Yakutat is expected to receive the most precipitation with 1-3
inches through the weekend. The majority of impacts will occur
Saturday afternoon, and the active pattern is expected to continue
through the rest of the week.

&&

.AVIATION.../ Through Thursday / Another day of minimal hazards
to aviation. Predominately clear clear skies over the panhandle
although a lower level marine deck brushes along coast of Prince
of Wales Island. Winds for Southeast Alaska will remain on the
lighter side, though overnight winds along the outer exposed
coasts up to 15 to 20 kt.


&&

.MARINE...With a weak pressure gradient, Inner Channel winds
will remain largely around light breezes, occasionally reaching
moderate breezes through Thursday night. Marine winds and waves
are expected to remain on the quiet side until late Thursday into
early Friday when a gale force front moves into the Gulf. Late
Thursday night winds offshore will start to increase to gales as
winds along the coast will increase to strong breezes. As the
front continues to approach, winds will continue to increase into
Friday. By Friday morning, into Friday evening, southeasterly
gales will be located along the coast and the far northern Gulf of
Alaska. Seas are expected to increase along the outer coast with
this front with peaks near 20ft along the outer coast Friday night
before winds decrease again.

&&

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...Gale Warning for PKZ652-672.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ642>644-651-661>664-671.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...EAB
LONG TERM....ZTK
AVIATION...Bezenek
MARINE...EAB

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