


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Juneau, AK
Issued by NWS Juneau, AK
602 FXAK67 PAJK 141805 AFDAJK Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Juneau AK 1005 AM AKDT Mon Jul 14 2025 .UPDATE...18z TAF Aviation Discussion Update && .SHORT TERM... Key Points: - Dry conditions continue with partly cloudy skies due to a ridge over the gulf. - High temperatures in the mid to high 60s expected this week. - Winds remain light in many areas with the exception of afternoon sea breezes. Details: The ridge building over the Gulf of Alaska will allow for dry conditions across the panhandle today into the rest of the week. Clearing skies, with light winds, have also allowed for fog development over the southern panhandle tonight. Some areas near Frederick Sound are seeing visibilities decrease to a quarter statute mile at times. This fog will dissipate as temperatures begin to rise this morning. Along with fog, a marine layer still expected to form this morning, but is not as widespread as originally anticipated. Satellite is starting to indicate areas with a marine layer west of Baranof Island. Areas along the outer coast can see low cloud decks as a result of this marine layer. With the ridge building over the panhandle, partly cloudy to clear skies will allow for temperatures to increase to mid to high 60s. Some areas will even see temperatures into the low 70s. Increasing day time temperatures will allow for sea breezes to form increasing winds for some land areas. Skagway will experience the largest affect from sea breezes with winds increasing to 15 to 20 kts in the afternoon. .LONG TERM.../Wednesday through Sunday/... Key messages: - Building ridge blocking panhandle from main storm flow flattening to more zonal flow by Friday across the Gulf. Details: Ridge that builds up over the central gulf by Wednesday looks to hang one while possibly letting a trough to run over the top of the ridge late Wed and early Thursday. Models have slightly differing strength on this, but have gone with a weak trough over the northeast panhandle, and then models suggesting a fairly flat zonal flow developing Friday to weekend. Precipitation Wednesday primarily for the Northeast Gulf Coast, and then just slight change ( 20 PoP or less into the panhandle ) Thursday to the weekend. Flow pattern may direct shortwaves to the panhandle for the weekend, but Timing may be an issue that wee need to watch. No significant feature is expected to the weekend at this time. && .AVIATION...Marine layer clouds and some lingering fog still remain an issue through the late morning in some parts of the panhandle. Fog and low clouds that developed in the central inner channels overnight with visibility down to a 1/4 mile at times are still hanging on around southern Stephens Passage and Frederick Sound as of 10 am. More mid level clouds (ceilings down to 1500 ft) are still hanging around Prince of Wales Island, Southern Clarence, and Misty Fjords as well. A marine layer that set up along the gulf coast stretching form Yakutat to Ketchikan has started to thin out, with Sitka breaking out for the day as of this discussion. Low clouds and fog are again expected for late tonight mainly over the south (radiational fog and low clouds) and along the outer coast (marine layer clouds advecting inland again). Expect IFR or lower near these features which will likely dissipate again Tuesday morning. Winds are light currently, but sea breezes could generate higher winds up to 20 kt in the afternoons (particularly Skagway). && .MARINE... Outside waters: Winds throughout the day today remain between 10 to 15 kts as the ridge builds over the gulf. As the ridge tightens, wind speeds near the gulf coast will increase to NW moderate to strong breezes of 20 to 25 kts Monday night. These increased winds are expected into Wednesday before the ridge begins to slightly weaken. Wave heights increase to 5 to 8 ft, with the largest seas near Dixon Entrance. With clearing skies and warming temperatures, a marine layer is expected to develop along the coast. As of early Monday morning, satellite has started to indicate marine layer development west of Baranof Island. Inside Waters: Mainly light to gentle breezes of 5 to 10 kts persist across the inner channels. An exception to these lighter winds will be areas that normally experience sea breezes. Specifically, Cross Sound, Icy Strait, and Lynn Canal will see increases in winds Monday afternoon. N Lynn Canal will see the strongest winds with increases up to 20 kts possible in the afternoon from Eldred Rock to Taiya Inlet. Winds in southern Clarence Strait will also increase tomorrow evening as the pressure gradient begins to tighten over the panhandle. && .AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PUBLIC...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ641-661. && $$ SHORT TERM...EAB LONG TERM....Bezenek AVIATION...STJ MARINE...EAB Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau