Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Juneau, AK

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374 FXAK67 PAJK 172248 AFDAJK Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Juneau AK 248 PM AKDT Mon Jun 17 2024 .SHORT TERM...
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More sun and warm weather is in store for SE AK today with the extremely slight chance of a thunderstorm on the extreme northern end and extreme southeastern end of the panhandle. Currently, at the time of writing, a series of thunderstorms in British Columbia is moving south, soon to cross over near Haines Customs. Furthermore, another cluster of storms may hold together to enter the AOR near Hyder. Expect condition for continued storm development to last through early this evening. As for the pesky marine layer, areas along the coast are not expected to have clearing skies for much of the day on Tuesday, with highs only reaching the the low 60s. Elsewhere in the far inner channels, temperatures will reach the mid to upper 70s for Juneau northward, and the upper 60s for the central and southern panhandle. .LONG TERM...Summer-like weather will be the start of the long term forecast, but a weather pattern change will bring cooler temps and rain back to the panhandle. A ridge will continue to hover over SE AK through Wednesday, with the axis slowly moving E over the Gulf and across the area. Dry, with afternoon sea breezes in the inner channels is the main theme over the next few days. By Thursday, a weak wave will attempt to advance through the ridge, bringing with it chances of rain, though operational guidance is likely overemphasizing PoP chances with this system. Anticipate fairly minimal QPF totals and wind impacts, if the system isn`t largely eroded away by the ridge itself. By the end of the week, an extension of a closed low over the Aleutians attempts to form into a longwave trough and move into the Gulf, bringing some onshore flow, cooler temperatures, and increasing PoPs through the weekend. Think that there is a good chance that much of the energy will move S of the panhandle, but still anticipate at least some chances of rain for the area. Threats to coastal and gulf waters remain low through Thursday, with our swells significant deep ocean wave heights remaining largely under 8ft. With that said, stout 15 to 20 knot northwest winds along the coast will bring short period wind driven waves to the west coast of Prince of Wales and into Dixon Entrance.
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&& .AVIATION...
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/Through Tuesday afternoon/...The extensive marine layer that penetrated well inland last night never did completely dissipate today and will return tonight. Expect very low CIGs once again Tuesday morning, but when the clouds dissipate with daytime heating, it will be very fine flying weather. As with today, lowest conditions will be on the outer coast and last there the longest. Showers and thunderstorms began forming over The Yukon and British Columbia by late morning and have been tracking south and increasing in number through the afternoon the potential for afternoon thunderstorms over Southeast Alaska is there, but the probability of them surviving the transit over the higher terrain that makes up the international border is low. Best chance for them to appear will be over the far northern inner channels - Skagway, Haines and Lynn Canal. Expect the same for tomorrow
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&& .MARINE...
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The previous day`s marine layer currently moving out of the inner channels will make it`s return to the inside waters late tonight. Not looking much in terms of fog tonight with some drier air undercutting the aforementioned marine layer, raising the cloud deck up hundreds of feet. Winds from the resulting temperature difference will continue to increase in east west facing channels such as Icy Strait and Peril Strait as the layer retreats. Expect similar conditions tomorrow as the marine layer retreats yet again Tuesday morning.
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&& .HYDROLOGY...
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Flood advisory continues for the Chilkat River due to snowmelt. The river has crested and is expected to lower through this afternoon and evening before raising again. The Chilkat is expected to continue to fluctuate up and down on a daily pattern through the next few days with the river staying above minor flood stage for most of that time. By Thursday, as clouds move into the area limiting daytime heating, the Chilkat stage will begin to drop and then fall below flood stage overnight.
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&& .AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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PUBLIC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ021-642.
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&& $$ SHORT TERM...NC LONG TERM....GJS/GFS AVIATION...Fritsch Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau