Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Juneau, AK

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533 FXAK67 PAJK 061323 AFDAJK Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Juneau AK 523 AM AKDT Mon May 6 2024 .SHORT TERM...
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Overcast skies and unsettled rainy weather remain the story through the short term as a weakening low within the Gulf drapes a stationary front in tandem with broad onshore flow across the AOR. Rainfall remains needed for southeast Alaska, but totals remain negligible, ranging from 0.25-0.50" through Tuesday morning. This could result in some small creek & stream rises, but not anticipating major impacts at this time. Otherwise, anticipating the continuation of predominate southerly winds through the short term, up to 10 to 15 mph over land and up to 15kts for marine inner channels, with seas 3 ft or less. For the outer waters, anticipate southeasterly winds up to 15 to 20 kts with combined seas building to 9 ft for today, gradually subsiding from north to south through tonight. Conditions begin to deteriorate once more for the outer and outer coastal waters by Tuesday afternoon ahead of an approaching low. .LONG TERM... An active weather pattern continues as system after system moves into the panhandle, with each one bringing concurrent chances of rain and wind across the area. Aloft, a strong jet streak along the E flank of a trough over the Bering Sea will keep the the primary area of upper level support over the panhandle. Closer to the surface, this will contribute to wave development, bringing frontal bands into the panhandle. Lingering chances of precipitation associated with onshore flow in the wake of a system from Sunday and Monday will remain through Tuesday before another, stronger system arrives late on Tuesday, lasting through Wednesday. This second system will move up from the SW, moving around the broader area of upper level troughing. Expect a surge of more widespread precipitation to be possible with this system alongside the potential for small craft winds for many locations and gale force winds potentially in the gulf. Beyond this point another system arrives late on Wednesday though this one will be likely focused more on the northern half of the panhandle and the gulf coast, bringing with it another round of rain and wind to SE AK. Both of these systems will deliver fairly respectable rainfall totals to the area, relative to the `dry season` which is currently underway, though no major flooding concerns are expected. A break in the weather is possible for Saturday, though it is likely to prove short-lived as another system may arrive for the second half of the weekend.
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&& .AVIATION...
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Broad low in the gulf will continue to bring onshore and showers to the panhandle on Monday. Expect MVFR conditions to improve to low end VFR throughout the day from south to north with ceilings of 3500 ft or more. Continued improvement but overall continued cloud coverage heading into Tuesday. No significant wind concerns for the TAF period.
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&& .MARINE...
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A weakening low in the Gulf will allow for slow improvement of conditions through today with southerly winds up to Gentle to Moderate Breeze within inner channel waters and seas 2ft or less. For outer waters, expect southerly to southeasterly winds up to Strong Breeze with combined seas up to 9 ft today, gradually subsiding to 7-8ft north to south through tonight. By Tuesday evening into midweek, conditions begin to deteriorate once more as a strong low moves into the Gulf of Alaska from the North Pacific. Over the Gulf and for outer coastal waters, anticipate building seas with wave heights up to 10 to 15ft and southeasterly winds reaching Near Gales to Gales by Tuesday night, particularly along the coast. Inner channel winds increase by Wednesday morning up to Fresh to Strong Breeze from the south as the system pushes inland, with wave heights reaching 3 to 4 ft.
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&& .AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PUBLIC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ022-641>644-651-652-661>664-671-672. && $$ SHORT TERM...NM LONG TERM....GFS AVIATION...STJ Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau