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674
FXAK69 PAFG 222334
AFDAFG
Northern Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Fairbanks AK
334 PM AKDT Wed Jul 22 2026
.SYNOPSIS...The pattern change across Northern Alaska continues as
the warmer and drier conditions earlier in the week have given way
to rainier and cooler conditions through the end of the week, with
an unsettled pattern looking to stick around into early next week. A
front situated over the northeastern Interior this afternoon will
continue to lift northeastward with scattered rain showers and
breezy winds as a more organized low in the Bering Sea moves onshore
into Southwest Alaska this afternoon and evening. Widespread rain
and gusty winds will accompany this low as it tracks inland Thursday
into Friday, as cooler temperatures settle in region-wide.
Associated with the Bering Sea low, minor coastal impacts such as
high surf are possible, but should remain minimal, overall. While
any thunderstorm chances over the coming days will remain isolated
in nature given the cooler airmass building-in, there is increasing
confidence for primarily a rain/snow mix and a pocket or 2 of
freezing rain for the mainly for portions of the North Slope and
Brooks Range later in the day Thursday into Friday. As this mid-to-
late week system shifts eastward Friday into Saturday, warmer and
drier conditions will progressively build-in out of the west ahead
of an arctic trough working southeastward out of the Chukchi Sea
late Saturday into Sunday. This secondary system will support
another round of rain/snow mix for the Brooks Range and North Slope
and rain for areas to the south, along with breezy winds and
subsequent cooler temperatures.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
Central and Eastern Interior...
- A front situated over the far northeastern Interior Wednesday
afternoon that has been continuing to bring some isolated to
scattered rain showers is lifting northeastward and departing the
region throughout the rest of the day as drier conditions continue
to build-in out of the southwest. This drying trend will be short
lived as widespread rain moves in for late Wednesday into Thursday,
continuing through Friday morning as a Bering Sea low moves inland.
- Additional rainfall amounts through Friday are expected to be
around 0.25-0.75" regionwide with locally higher totals around 1-2"
in the Alaska Range and locally lighter totals around 0.10-0.25" in
the Upper Tanana Valley around Tok and Northway.
- Cooler temperatures and breezy winds will accompany the
aforementioned system, with highs in the 60s/70s today dropping to
the 50s/60s for Thursday and Friday. Winds across the Interior will
peak this evening into Friday with generally gusts to around 20-30
mph expected. Locally stronger winds will continue through Alaska
Range Passes this evening through Thursday where Wind Advisories are
in effect.
- Dry conditions will build-in out of the west on Friday into Friday
night as best rain chances shift to the east of Fairbanks. Warmer
temperatures will return over the weekend as highs rebound into the
60s/70s.
- An arctic front remains on track to work southeastward through the
Interior Sunday into Monday with widespread rain, breezy winds, and
cooler temperatures.
West Coast and Western Interior...
- A front lifting northeastward, exiting the Western Interior, has
been continuing to bring some isolated to scattered rain showers. It
will continue lifting northeastward throughout the day and exit the
region ahead of a Bering Sea low that will be moving onshore later
today.
- That Bering Sea low will move onshore into Western Alaska late
today, bringing widespread rain and gusty winds through Thursday.
The strongest winds will remain west/northwest along the West Coast,
with the primary concerns continuing to center around high surf and
minor coastal flooding. See the Coastal Hazard Potential discussion
below for additional information.
- Water levels will rise a bit with each high tide tonight through
Friday morning. A High Surf Advisory has been issued for the Yukon
Delta coast region from 4pm today until 4pm Thursday for Water
levels 1-2 ft above the highest high tide line. Localized beach
erosion may occur. Fortunately, impacts are expected to be minor.
- Additional rainfall amounts through Thursday are expected to be
around 0.25-0.75" regionwide with locally higher totals around 1-2"
in the Alaska Range and 0.75-1.25" for the Upper Kuskokwim near
McGrath and Nikolai, along with locally lighter totals around 0.10-
0.25" for the NW Arctic Coast and Kotzebue Sound region.
- Gusty winds will accompany this system as it moves inland, as
temperatures hold relatively steady. Wind gusts will peak tonight
into Thursday and Thursday night around 30-45 mph along the West
Coast and 20-30 mph in the Western Interior.
- Dry conditions will build in out of the west on Thursday and
continue through Friday. A much weaker low will move into Southwest
Alaska on Saturday with isolated to scattered light rain showers
possible.
- An arctic front remains on track to work southeast through Western
Alaska late Saturday into Sunday with widespread rain, breezy winds,
and cooler temperatures.
North Slope and Brooks Range..
- A front will continue to lift northeast towards the Eastern Arctic
Coast this afternoon into tonight with scattered to widespread
showers and isolated thunderstorms. Small pockets of light freezing
drizzle will also be possible along the Arctic Coast from Utqiagvik
to Point Lay.
- A low moving into Western Alaska from the Bering Sea will move
into the Interior this afternoon through Thursday, meeting a colder
airmass situated over the High Arctic. Steadier rain will move into
the Brooks Range on Thursday as colder air pushes south, supporting
a transition to a rain/snow mix with isolated pockets of freezing
rain. Storm total snowfall accumulations Thursday through Friday
morning could be 3 to 5 inches, however with surface temperatures
above freezing, the snow is not anticipated to stick to the road.
- The bulk of precipitation expected through Friday is expected to
remain focused in the Brooks Range, Central/Eastern Arctic Plains,
and Eastern Arctic Coast. Precipitation totals around 0.25-0.75"
are expected in the Brooks Range, with around 0.10-0.40" for
eastern portions of the Arctic Plains and Coast. Locally lighter
totals around a T-0.10" are expected for the Central and Western
Arctic Coast and Western Arctic Plains.
- Gusty winds will accompany this system as it passes over the North
Slope, as temperatures see a cooling trend. Wind gusts will peak out
late Thursday into Friday with up to around 30-45 mph regionwide,
strongest in the Brooks Range and around Kaktovik.
- Warmer and drier conditions later in the day Friday into Saturday
will be short lived as an arctic front remains on track to work
southeast into far Northern Alaska late Saturday into Sunday with a
rain/snow mix, gusty winds, and cooler temperatures.
&&
.FORECAST ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...Today through Friday Night.
Our primary forecast attention is transitioning to the low
approaching in the Bering Sea. The latest CAMS and ensemble models
remain in good agreement on the track and intensity of this system,
showing it maintaining a similar strength of around mid-990s mb as
it tracks northeastward toward the Norton Sound. The low pressure
center is expected to make landfall in the Interior Norton Sound
overnight tonight into early Thursday morning, as widespread rain
and gusty winds have been building into Western Alaska throughout
the day today & will continue into into tonight. Rain and wind will
shift east into the Interior this afternoon into tonight & Thursday,
as broad upper level troughing encompasses Northern Alaska. A front
stalled over the High Arctic will get wrapped into the broad
circulation Thursday into Friday, as colder air from the Chuckhi and
Beaufort Seas meets a warm and moist airmass over the Interior with
the North Slope and Brooks Range in between. This setup will remain
conducive for precipitation to favor a rain/snow mix in the
Central/Eastern Brooks Range and Eastern Brooks Range where small
pockets of freezing rain/drizzle will also be possible. Storm total
snowfall accumulations could be 3 to 5 inches, however with surface
temperatures above freezing, the snow is not anticipated to stick to
the road. Even ahead of this front dropping south, temperatures
hovering around freezing from Utqiagvik to Point Lay today combined
with the frontal boundary and low stratus could lead to small areas
of light freezing drizzle. Pertaining to the aforementioned pockets
of freezing drizzle, it is important to note that these areas have
been experiencing warm temperatures for quite some time. So, SFC
temps are relatively warm, making chances for significant freezing
rain/freezing drizzle unlikely. Following an active thunderstorm day
yesterday with over 2000 cloud to ground lightning strikes in Alaska
and the Yukon, thunderstorms will trend to being much more isolated
over the coming days as cooler temperatures and a more stable
airmass work to suppress the bulk of convection.
Drier conditions will build in west to east Thursday into Friday
across Northern Alaska as a ridge of high pressure shifts inland
from the Bering Sea following the exiting low. Precipitation totals
through Friday have remained consistent with previous forecasts,
showing a broad 0.25-0.75" across much of Northern Alaska as driest
locations including the NW Arctic Coast and Upper Tanana Valley
around Tok and Northway pick up around a T-0.25". Locally higher
amounts around 1-2" will also be possible in the Alaska Range. When
it comes to potential wintry precipitation across the North Slope
and Brooks Range, warm ground temperatures should limit
accumulations with the exception to that being higher elevations of
the Brooks Range including Atigun Pass which could see light snow
amounts of a few inches to accumulate. With respect to freezing
rain/drizzle amounts, expect those to remain light and focused along
the Arctic Coast.
A Wind Advisory remains in effect for the Eastern Alaska Range north
of Trims Camp along the Richardson through 7 PM Thursday. The
current brief lull in the winds during the daytime hours today will
ramp back up into this evening and Thursday morning as that low in
the Bering Sea approaches. This Wind Advisory has been expanded to
include the Windy Pass area from this evening into Thursday morning.
Winds with the Bering Sea low will peak as the low tracks over the
state, with peak gusts along the coast around 30-45 mph and around
20-30 mph in the Interior with locally higher spots. See the Coastal
Hazard Potential section below for details on what we are expecting
with this wind for our coastal communities along the West Coast from
the Yukon Delta north to the Kotzebue Sound.
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 1 through 3...
A Special Weather Statement remains in effect for potential coastal
impacts tonight to Friday morning from a Bering Sea low. Latest
model guidance is coalescing on a more southerly track towards the
YK Delta region as well as minor storm intensification to around the
mid 990s mb is expected before moving ashore into Norton Sound. This
system will likely bring widespread moderate to heavy rain along the
coast with gusty west/northwest winds up to 45 mph (40 kts) this
afternoon through Thursday night. Minor coastal impacts such as high
surf for the Yukon Delta, Norton Sound, and areas north of the
Bering Strait are possible. Water levels will rise slightly with
each high tide tonight through Friday morning. The highest water
level rises will be in Eastern Norton Sound, around 1 to 3 feet
above the normal high tide line. General water level rises around
0.5 to 1.5 feet are expected from Golovin to Nome. A High Surf
Advisory has been issued for the Yukon Delta coast region from 4pm
today until 4pm Thursday for Water levels 1-2 ft above the highest
high tide line. Localized beach erosion may occur. Water will
approach the road to the Hooper Bay Airport, but should not inundate
the airport or the road. Fortunately, significant impacts are not
anticipated. We will continue to update as necessary. In the
meantime, the West Coast from the Yukon Delta to Kivalina should
continue to monitor the latest forecasts. Stay tuned to
weather.gov/fairbanks for the latest updates.
&&
.EXTENDED FORECAST DAYS 4-7...SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
Saturday evening an arctic cold front will dig south towards the
North Slope. This cold front will bring 850 mb temperatures ranging
from 0C to -7C with the coldest temperatures in the Brooks Range.
There is some slight timing differences between the models, which
could make precipitation types messy. The current expectations would
be precipitation starts as rain during the day, and during the
overnight hours it transitions to snow. Snow accumulations would be
light due to surface temperatures well above freezing, but with
gusty winds, blowing snow could be a concern.
As this cold front moves into the Interior on Sunday, another round
of widespread precipitation and gusty winds are possible. Behind the
front a weak ridge will build across the Interior from the Bering
Sea. This would help to bring temperatures back to near normal as
early as Monday. While a ridge builds across the Interior, low
pressure will remain over the Northwest Arctic. This would create a
tight pressure gradient, keeping gusty northwesterly winds and
cooler temperatures in the Northwest Arctic.
Through the middle of next week, model guidance has not been in good
agreement. The GFS/GEFS solutions would keep troughing over a
majority of the mainland. This trough would keep us locked into a
cooler and wetter pattern through at least Thursday. The ECMWF
and the ECMWF ensemble as well the Canadian Ensembles show a ridge
developing over Mainland Alaska, keeping temperatures more
seasonable.
&&
Coastal Hazard Potential Days 3 and 4...None
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
No fire weather concerns are expected through the end of this week.
Current lightning activity across northern Alaska has plenty of
wetting rains with it. A Wind Advisory has been issued for southerly
wind gusts peaking out as high as 55-60 mph through Isabel Pass into
Thursday evening & for Windy Pass this evening into Thursday
morning. Fuels were marginal for supporting large fire growth in
that area.
A low in the Bering Sea will move across northern Alaska in a moist,
southwest flow aloft. Widespread wetting rains and unseasonably cold
temperatures will spread across the West Coast and then throughout
the Interior. Wetting rains are expected to spread into the eastern
Interior near the Canadian border by Friday, the only place we have
had any recent drying.
Highest rainfall totals for the end of the week are expected to be
upwards of 0.75-1.25 inches for the Alaska Range and portions of the
southwest and central Interior. Rain amounts of 0.25-0.75 inches
should be expected elsewhere.
$$
.AFG WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AK...Wind Advisory for AKZ849.
High Surf Advisory for AKZ825.
PK...Gale Warning for PKZ801-850.
Gale Warning for PKZ802-806.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ803.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ804-805-852-856.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ807.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ808>810-855.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ816-817.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ851.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ853.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ854.
&&
$$
004
FXAK68 PAFC 230124
AFDAFC
Southcentral and Southwest Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Anchorage AK
524 PM AKDT Wed Jul 22 2026
.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (Days 1 through
3: Tonight through Saturday)...
Key Messages:
1) A Wind Advisory remains in effect through Noon AKDT Thursday
for the Anchorage Hillside and Upper Eagle River for gusts up to
50 to 65 mph.
2) A Wind Advisory is in effect for the lower elevations of Eagle
River, Anchorage, and Eklutna from 1AM AKDT Thursday to Noon AKDT
Thursday for expected gusts of 35 to 50 mph.
3) A Wind Advisory is in effect for the Western Kenai Peninsula
along and near Cook Inlet for wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph. 8 to 12
feet waves expected moving northward up the Cook Inlet.
4) Flood Advisories remain in effect for the Yentna river and
along Oilwell Road near the Kroto and Moose Creeks.
5) Flood Watches remain in effect for the Susitna Valley and
Hatcher Pass due to excessive rainfall and continuing into mid
week.
Discussion:
The easiest way to describe the pattern over the next 24 to 48
hours is that the incoming system looks a lot like a winter storm
in our region, but without the cold and snow. However, wind and
heavy precipitation in the form of rain will absolutely be a
concern until this system exits between Thursday and Friday.
Taking a look at how things are shaping up currently, Southcentral
now sits within a region of mostly zonal flow out ahead of a deep
upper trough and low transiting across the Bering Sea. This
incoming system is progressing to the east very quickly thanks to
support from a strong 120-130 kt upper level jet streak nestled
near the base of the main trough axis. This potent shortwave
trough and attendant surface low are also latching onto a deep
tropical moisture tap, with unseasonably high precipitable water
now streaming northeast from the eastern Bering and AKPen into
Southcentral. Rain is already beginning to spread back into place
on the leading edge of this moisture plume. Light to moderate rain
is now spreading up the Cook Inlet into portions of the Kenai
Peninsula and Mat-Su Valleys, but most of the Copper Basin remains
dry for the moment. A strengthening south-north pressure gradient
ahead of the incoming low out west is also beginning to fuel
strengthening southerly gap winds, including along the Turnagain
Arm and out of the Copper River Valley.
In terms of the outlook from tonight onwards, there are really not
a lot of notable changes in terms of the overall thinking, and the
current forecast is looking mostly on track. Both rain and winds
will continue to worsen this evening into tonight as a firehose of
high moisture continues to spread north and east along a belt of
intensifying southwesterly flow aloft and as the main surface low
races eastwards into the Interior. There remains high confidence
(around 90% or higher) for widespread rainfall ranging between a
quarter inch across lower elevations of the Copper Basin to as
much as 3.5 inches over the Talkeetna Mountains through Thursday
afternoon. However, one lingering area of uncertainty for rainfall
totals is focused over parts of the Anchorage area. Models are
struggling to resolve whether the drying effect from gusty
southeast winds or the convergence of southeast winds with flow
moving up Cook Inlet will suppress/enhance rainfall totals in this
vicinity. It still looks like most spots will see a general 0.5
to 1 inch of additional rainfall, but expect amounts to vary quite
a bit across town.
Looking out at a broader scope, the main concerns continue to
center on heavy rainfall, gusty winds and potential worsening or
renewed flooding across parts of the Mat-Su Valleys given the
rain rates anticipated across the Talkeetna Mountains in
particular. The recent anomalously wet pattern coupled with the
additional round of heavy rainfall could also make some of the
impacts from the stronger winds anticipated along the Cook Inlet,
Turnagain Arm and Anchorage Hillside worse. Saturated ground could
make trees more susceptible to uprooting in winds gusting as high
as 65 mph at higher elevations and up to 50 mph at lower
elevations in Anchorage and the western coastline of the Kenai
Peninsula. Rapid rises on already swollen creeks and rivers is
also nearly certain overnight tonight, with the most significant
impacts expected on rivers already above or near flood stage
across portions of the Susitna Valley.
By tomorrow afternoon, things will begin to rapidly improve for
most places as the upper trough moves directly overhead and then
continues at a quick pace into the AlCan Border and Southeast
Alaska. As it does so, rain will rapidly clear out from west to
east, though showers will likely linger across higher elevations
and parts of the Copper Basin through Thursday night. Meanwhile,
south to southeast winds through favored gaps and along the Cook
Inlet will abruptly shut off by midday Thursday as the coastal
ridge swiftly erodes and as low level flow shifts from southerly
to westerly on the trailing side of the trough. Farther south,
strong and gusty westerlies will set up between the trough as it
skirts along the northern Gulf Coast and a ridge rapidly building
over the eastern Bering. Sustained Gale Force winds will develop
across the northern and eastern Gulf by Thursday afternoon and
persist through much of the day on Friday. Offshore gap winds
through Resurrection Bay, Passage Canal and Chiniak Bay could
cause Gale Force gusts as well, mainly between Thursday night and
Friday afternoon.
Aside from some lingering offshore winds, expect a welcome break
in the rain and clouds for the start of the weekend, with ample
sun and highs climbing back into the 60s and 70s for both Friday
and Saturday.
-AM/KC
&&
.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA AND THE BERING
SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3: Today through Saturday)...
Currently, the previously advertised 2nd low is moving over the
north Bering Sea. It is dragging a front into the Southwest
Mainland, leading to widespread rainfall and gusty winds. A Wind
Advisory remains in effect for the Kuskokwim Delta until 6 AM
Thursday for gusty winds with isolated gusts up to 55 mph. Also,
a Special Weather Statement remains out for the Kuskokwim Delta
and the Northern Bristol Bay Coasts for rough seas, rainfall, and
gusty winds. Wind speeds will gradually diminish through Thursday
and will become northerly at 10 to 20 mph by Friday into the
weekend.
Aside from the gusty winds across the Kuskokwim Delta and Bristol
Bay, moderate to heavy rain spreads out across the Kuskokwim
Valley, Interior Bristol Bay, and along the Western Alaska Range
as the front pushes further inland. Steady rain tapers off to
showers behind the front along the coast starting tonight. Steady
showers linger across the Western Alaska Range through Thursday
night as westerly upslope flow continues to wring out moisture
and additional weak shortwaves move across the area. The majority
of the Southwest Mainland and the AKPEN will finally dry out by
Thursday afternoon as the front dissipates. The drying trend
continues for Southwest on Friday.
Meanwhile back in the Bering, a ridge builds in by Thursday and
continues building into the weekend. This will lead to less active
weather over the Aleutians. However, another push of warm, moist
tropical air will move into the Bering and ride northward over
the strong ridge. This moisture plume will lift north over Shemya
and move through the Pribilof Islands into the Alaska Peninsula
over the weekend, leading to rain for all those locations. An
upper low from Chukotka will drop into the Southwest Mainland by
Saturday. This will lead to increased rain chances as it interacts
with the moisture plume. The easternmost areas of mainland
Southwest Alaska along the Alaska Range will remain mostly dry.
Details are still being clarified with this plume of moisture and
upper low, so stay tuned for updates
-JAR/DAN
&&
.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Sunday through Wednesday)...
By Sunday, the beginning of the long term is characterized by
high amplitude meridional flow created by a vertically stacked
ridge extending from the North Pacific and over the Bering and an
arctic trough digging southward over central Alaska. The global
models are in very good agreement in regards to smaller scale
details; for instance, with the digging trough axis taking a more
neutral tilt, precipitation is expected to make a return to
Southcentral Alaska. Out west across the Bering, the consensus is
that a series of Kamchatka fronts will lift northward across the
Bering. There is fair agreement of the vertically stacked ridge
breaking down over the Aleutians and Bering Monday into Tuesday,
allowing for a more west to east progression of low pressure
systems to move more closely along the Aleutian Chain. At the same
time, a weak surface low looks to form in the Gulf, which will
help to reinforce rain chances along coastal Southcentral and
perhaps inland areas as well. Temperatures are on track to stay
below normal for late July for all of the Southcentral Alaska due
to rain chances returning, and above normal across the Bering Sea
being stuck under a ridge.
-AM
&&
.AVIATION...
PANC...Winds will strengthen notably this evening as another
system tracks over and north of the area. Widespread light to
moderate rain will likely lower cigs and vis to MVFR to IFR.
Winds greater than 30 kts are expected around midnight and will
continue through around noon tomorrow.
&&
$$
781
FXAK67 PAJK 230018
AFDAJK
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
418 PM AKDT Wed Jul 22 2026
.SHORT TERM...A positively tilted ridge of high pressure remains
over the SE gulf and southern inner channels. Meanwhile, a front
streaming overtop of the ridge has brought steady rain to the
Yakutat area. Clouds and light rain will steadily spread over the
northern panhandle through Wednesday night but the front will be
weakening as it pushes into the ridge. The southern inner channels
have seen another sunny day with a NWLY breeze.
A separate front will move into the Yakutat area from the west by
Thursday morning and overtake the other one, making the break/lull
overnight be less evident. This front looks to have more cold air
advection with it, so thinking it will become showery behind it
and the ridge will finally be pushed off to the south. Therefore
the clouds and precip will have a greater chance to make it to the
southern panhandle by early Friday. As the front initially moves
in, low pressure will move into the Yukon and cause the pressure
gradient force to tight, causing breezy conditions for the
Haines/Skagway area Thursday afternoon/evening with gusts of
30-35mph. On Thursday night a new low center will form in the lee
of the St. Elias range over the NE gulf, then steadily track
southeastward on Friday. This low will keep the showers going,
then shift southward with the low, but with new shower potential
coming in from the east.
.LONG TERM... /Saturday through Wednesday/... The low pressure
system and associated front will continue moving Southeast through
the Alaska Panhandle Saturday. Overall, the weather pattern for
Saturday looks less favorable aloft for thunderstorms, but there
could be some convective shower activity moving into Southeast
Alaska from British Columbia.
A low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska may bring some stronger
winds (up to 15 kts) and higher rain chances Monday into the
middle of next week. Right now, the low looks to be fairly
disorganized, but the strongest winds (up to 20 kts) are forecast
to be near Cape Suckling, as the GFS hints at a barrier jet
formation. As of now, confidence in this occurring is low, but it
is a possibility to monitor.
&&
.AVIATION.../through Thursday afternoon/...Generally clear skies
remain from Frederick Sound southwards while extensive cloud
cover continues filling in over the northern half of the panhandle
and outer coast. A weak front extending across the northern gulf
is still bringing very low CIGs and light rain to the northern
gulf coast and has spread into Cross Sound and Icy Strait as of
Wednesday afternoon. East of Sisters Island, CIGs are expected to
remain AoA 2000 for the inner channels north of Frederick Sound.
TAF sites south of Frederick Sound should continue to see VFR
conditions through the period, with only PAKW along the outer
coast showing some potential similar low CIGs and reduced VIS
developing if the marine layer offshore manages to sneak in, but
confidence remains too low to include for this TAF issuance. Stout
winds continue at both the northern and southern end of the inner
channels, but both of these areas should weaken slightly
overnight into Thursday. Lynn Canal will see stronger southerly
winds develop Thursday night. Cloud cover will prevent significant
sea breeze development across the area.
&&
.MARINE...
Outer Waters: NW winds shift more westerly, particularly in the
northern gulf, as the high pressure ridge in the gulf shifts
eastward and begins to flatten due to a low pressure system
moving across interior Alaska. Winds are expected to remain
elevated, as high as 20kts and up to 25kts in southern coastal
waters. A modest low developing in the northern gulf will help to
slacken the gradient as it ambles southward through the gulf, with
a west swell driving increasing waveheights Thursday night.
Overall a diminishing trend for wind and waves heading into the
weekend.
Inner Waters: Inner channels are expected to remain quite breezy
tonight, with winds peaking Thursday evening before the pressure
gradient becomes less favorable for strong winds on Friday. A
strong southerly breeze is expected in Lynn Canal over the next
two days. Winds are forecasted to remain around small craft level
(24kts) through the evening, weakening overnight and then ramping
back up Thursday as a low transits the interior and Yukon
Territory. This along with the shifting of the ridge axis in the
gulf will be the impetus for sustained winds up to around 30 kt by
Thursday evening along with seas up to 6 ft. Cross Sound and Icy
Strait are expected to have a strong westerly wind as high as 20
kts Thursday and northerly winds are expected to persist in
Clarence Strait thought Thursday morning. The pressure gradient is
also expected to bring elevated southerly winds in Stephen`s
Passage on Friday, around 15kts. Winds will gradually weaken
through the inner channels later in the day Friday before an
expected weak shift to offshore flow due to low pressure moving
south of the panhandle.
&&
.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ012-013-641-642-644-652-661>664-671-
672.
&&
$$
SHORT TERM...Ferrin
LONG TERM...Musall
AVIATION...STJ
MARINE...STJ
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