Alert archive / Alaska / Small Craft Advisories in 2021

Small Craft Advisory 61, NWS Juneau, AK

January 30, 2021

NWS Juneau, AK issued this small craft advisory at Jan 30, 2021, 3:38 PM AKST. It was in force for 24 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 30, 2021, 3:38 PM AKST (00:38 UTC)
Expired
Jan 31, 2021, 3:32 PM AKST
In force
24 hr
Issued by
NWS Juneau, AK

The text

As transmitted.

842 
FZAK52 PAJK 310038
CWFAEG

Coastal Waters Forecast for Southeast Alaska
National Weather Service Juneau AK
338 PM AKST Sat Jan 30 2021

Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters from Dixon Entrance to
Cape Suckling out 100 NM

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Seas forecasts represent the average of the highest
one-third of the combined windwave and swell height.

PKZ099-311845-
338 PM AKST Sat Jan 30 2021
.SYNOPSIS FOR OUTSIDE WATERS...
A low west of Haida Gwaii moves south as a new low  develops
near Yakutat on Monday morning. This low travels south  along
the coast Monday evening. Offshore flow increases on  Monday.   

$$

PKZ041-311845-
Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision-
338 PM AKST Sat Jan 30 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 14 ft. 
.SUN...E wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft. SW swell. 
.SUN NIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.MON...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.TUE...W wind 25 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.WED...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.THU...W wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. 

$$

PKZ042-311845-
Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe-
338 PM AKST Sat Jan 30 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 12 ft. SW swell. 
.SUN...NE wind 25 kt becoming E 15 kt in the afternoon. Seas
11 ft. SW swell. 
.SUN NIGHT...E wind 10 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.MON...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.TUE...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.WED...SW wind 20 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.THU...W wind 20 kt. Seas 10 ft. 

$$

PKZ043-311845-
Cape Edgecumbe to Cape Fairweather-
338 PM AKST Sat Jan 30 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 11 ft. SW swell. 
.SUN...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.SUN NIGHT...N wind 10 kt becoming SW late. Seas 8 ft. SW
swell. 
.MON...SW wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...E wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.TUE...N wind 25 kt becoming E. Seas 7 ft. 
.WED...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.THU...W wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 

$$

PKZ051-311845-
Cape Fairweather to Icy Cape-
338 PM AKST Sat Jan 30 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY...

.TONIGHT...SE wind 25 kt becoming E 15 kt late. Seas 10 ft. 
.SUN...E wind 15 kt becoming N in the afternoon. Seas 8 ft
subsiding to 7 ft. SW swell. 
.SUN NIGHT...W wind 20 kt. Out of interior bays and passes,
gusts to 35 kt late. Seas 7 ft. SW swell in the evening. Snow
showers late. 
.MON...E wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TUE...E wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.WED...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.THU...W wind 10 kt. Seas 7 ft. 

$$

PKZ052-311845-
Icy Cape to Cape Suckling-
338 PM AKST Sat Jan 30 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TONIGHT...E wind 25 kt diminishing to 15 kt late. Seas 10 ft. 
.SUN...E wind 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Seas 7 ft.
SW swell. 
.SUN NIGHT...NW wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.MON...N wind 20 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. 
.TUE...N wind 15 kt becoming SE 25 kt. Seas 5 ft building to
9 ft. 
.WED...E wind 25 kt diminishing to 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.THU...W wind 10 kt. Seas 7 ft. 

$$
2 follow-up statements
678 
FZAK52 PAJK 311242
CWFAEG

Coastal Waters Forecast for Southeast Alaska
National Weather Service Juneau AK
342 AM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters from Dixon Entrance to
Cape Suckling out 100 NM

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Seas forecasts represent the average of the highest
one-third of the combined windwave and swell height.

PKZ099-010645-
342 AM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021
.SYNOPSIS FOR OUTSIDE WATERS...
A low west of Haida Gwaii moves south. A new low  develops near
Yakutat on Monday morning and moves south along the coast Monday
evening. Offshore flow increases on Monday.  

$$

PKZ041-010645-
Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision-
342 AM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E wind 25 kt diminishing to 15 kt. Seas 12 ft. 
.TONIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.MON...S wind 15 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Seas 8 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.TUE...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.WED...SE wind 20 kt becoming W. Seas 10 ft. 
.THU...W wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft. 

$$

PKZ042-010645-
Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe-
342 AM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt becoming S late. Seas 9 ft. W swell. 
.MON...SW wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. W swell in the morning. Rain
showers in the afternoon. 
.MON NIGHT...S wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. Rain showers. 
.TUE...N wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.WED...SE wind 25 kt becoming W. Seas 9 ft. 
.THU...NW wind 25 kt becoming SW. Seas 11 ft. 

$$

PKZ043-010645-
Cape Edgecumbe to Cape Fairweather-
342 AM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THIS EVENING...

.TODAY...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.TONIGHT...W wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.MON...S wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Rain showers in the morning.
Snow showers. 
.MON NIGHT...E gale to 35 kt. Seas 11 ft. 
.TUE...NE gale to 35 kt becoming SE 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.WED...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.THU...NW wind 25 kt becoming S. Seas 10 ft. 

$$

PKZ051-010645-
Cape Fairweather to Icy Cape-
342 AM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THIS MORNING AND LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...NE wind 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Seas 8 ft
subsiding to 6 ft. SW swell. 
.TONIGHT...W wind 15 kt becoming SE 30 kt late. Seas building to 
8 ft late. W swell in the evening. 
.MON...E gale to 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...E gale to 40 kt. Seas 10 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TUE...NE wind 30 kt becoming E 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED...E wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.THU...E wind 20 kt becoming S. Seas 9 ft. 

$$

PKZ052-010645-
Icy Cape to Cape Suckling-
342 AM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THIS MORNING AND LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...E wind 10 kt becoming NW in the afternoon. Seas 8 ft
subsiding to 5 ft.
.TONIGHT...NW wind 15 kt increasing to 25 kt late. Seas 5 ft building
to 8 ft late.
.MON...E wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TUE...N wind 20 kt becoming SE. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED...E wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.THU...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. 

$$
988 
FZAK52 PAJK 010032
CWFAEG

Coastal Waters Forecast for Southeast Alaska
National Weather Service Juneau AK
332 PM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters from Dixon Entrance to
Cape Suckling out 100 NM

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Seas forecasts represent the average of the highest
one-third of the combined windwave and swell height.

PKZ099-011845-
332 PM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021
.SYNOPSIS FOR OUTSIDE WATERS...
A low west of Haida Gwaii moves south tonight. A new low develops
near Yakutat on Monday morning and moves southeast along the 
coast Monday evening. Offshore flow increases on Monday. 

$$

PKZ041-011845-
Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision-
332 PM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...E wind 15 kt. Seas 10 ft. 
.MON...S wind 15 kt becoming W in the afternoon. Seas 8 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...S wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. 
.TUE...N wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...N wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.WED...SE wind 20 kt becoming W. Seas 10 ft. 
.THU...W wind 25 kt. Seas 12 ft. 
.FRI...S wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. 

$$

PKZ042-011845-
Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe-
332 PM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...N wind 15 kt becoming S late. Seas 9 ft subsiding to 6
ft late.
.MON...SW wind 15 kt. Seas building to 8 ft. W swell in the 
morning.
.MON NIGHT...S wind 15 kt becoming E 25 kt late. Seas 9 ft.
Rain showers late. 
.TUE...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED...SE wind 25 kt becoming W. Seas 9 ft. 
.THU...NW wind 25 kt becoming SW. Seas 11 ft. 
.FRI...S wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. 

$$

PKZ043-011845-
Cape Edgecumbe to Cape Fairweather-
332 PM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. W swell in the evening. 
.MON...S wind 15 kt, except E wind increasing to 35 kt in the
northern half. Seas 8 ft. Snow showers in the morning.
.MON NIGHT...E gale to 35 kt. Seas 10 ft. Rain showers in the
evening. 
.TUE...NE gale to 35 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.TUE NIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.THU...NW wind 25 kt becoming S. Seas 10 ft. 
.FRI...S wind 15 kt. Seas 8 ft. 

$$

PKZ051-011845-
Cape Fairweather to Icy Cape-
332 PM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

...GALE WARNING MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...W wind 15 kt becoming SE 25 kt late. Seas 7 ft. SW
swell in the evening. Snow showers. 
.MON...E wind 35 kt. Higher gusts out of interior passes. Seas 9 
ft. Snow showers in the morning.
.MON NIGHT...NE gale to 35 kt. Higher gusts out of interior
passes. Seas 10 ft. Rain showers in the evening. Freezing spray. 
.TUE...NE wind 30 kt. Higher gusts out of interior passes. Seas 9
ft. Freezing spray.
.TUE NIGHT...E wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. SW swell. Freezing
spray. 
.WED...E wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.THU...E wind 20 kt becoming S. Seas 9 ft. 
.FRI...S wind 15 kt. Seas 7 ft. 

$$

PKZ052-011845-
Icy Cape to Cape Suckling-
332 PM AKST Sun Jan 31 2021

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...

.TONIGHT...NW wind 15 kt increasing to 25 kt late. Seas 6 ft. 
.MON...E wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.MON NIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 8 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TUE...N wind 20 kt. Seas 7 ft. Freezing spray. 
.TUE NIGHT...SE wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.WED...E wind 20 kt. Seas 8 ft. 
.THU...SE wind 15 kt. Seas 9 ft. 
.FRI...S wind 10 kt. Seas 6 ft. 

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this small craft advisory went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Juneau, AK wrote its last area forecast discussion before this small craft advisory went out at Jan 30, 2:53 PM AKST, 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 30, 2:53 PM AKST, 45 minutes before
Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
253 PM AKST Sat Jan 30 2021

.SHORT TERM.../Through Monday/ Multiple low pressure centers
continue to swirl around the Gulf of Alaska and panhandle today.
Satellite imagery shows at least 3 separate circulation centers
in the gulf with a fourth stronger one south of Haida Gwaii. These
lows have been sending waves of showers (mostly snow) over the
panhandle for the last 24 hours or so. Received snow reports have
been low with up to 3 inches received in some places overnight.

Not much has changed Through Sun night as the showers are still
expected to diminish through the next 12 hours. This is mainly due
to northerly outflow increasing tonight ahead of a new push of
cold air from the north. Winds in Lynn Canal are expected to reach
25 to 30 kt winds coming out of Taku Inlet and Cross Sound at the
same time.

More significant changes start showing up for Mon as a new low
forms in the northern gulf while outflow starts getting stronger.
Some more detail was added to the outflow winds compared to
previous forecasts, but overall wind changes were not that
substantial (Gale force winds still expected for Lynn Canal Mon)
Temperatures will also be cooling off again with some areas in the
northern half barely reaching 30 for highs on Mon.

The largest change in the forecast occurred at the end of the
short range Mon into Mon night as a low develops in the northern
gulf and slides SE. Current guidance has it sliding SE noticeably
faster then the previous forecast depicted, with the Nam and
Canadian faster then the ECMWF and GFS. However, Ensemble means
were supporting the slower solutions of the GFS and ECMWF, so
headed in that direction, but those were still a good 3 to 6 hours
faster then the previous forecast. Something to keep an eye on as
well, is that guidance is trying to form a convergence zone over
Kupreanof and Kuiu Island areas Mon into Mon night that could
result in some significant snow falls for those areas. Kept them
around advisory criteria for now, as confidence is low where
exactly it will set up, if it sets up at all, but snow totals
could range much higher or lower then currently depicted.

.LONG TERM.../Monday through Saturday night/ Extended forecast
period begins with a low pressure system encroaching on the region
from the west. A strong pressure gradient across the northern
panhandle will be the catalyst for some decent winds from Yakutat
to Skagway and areas south to the Icy Strait corridor and
Stephens Passage. Most areas should already be sufficiently cold
from offshore flow to see some snow from this system. While this
is not looking to be a particularly wet system, models are
beginning to come into agreement that there may be a bit more
moisture with this initial event than previously thought. While
highest snowfall totals still look to be set for northern areas,
there is growing indication that areas as far south as Ketchikan
could see an inch or two. For the time being, have switched gears
from the previous forecast and opted to leave the higher precip
amounts in for further scrutiny as the event draws nearer,
however, should offshore flow win out, this precip heavy forecast
may not come to fruition.

The next system that will impact the region moves in Tuesday
night into Wednesday. Still a decent amount of uncertainty exists
with this particular feature. While again, ambient conditions
should be cold enough across the region to initially support
snow, flow around this system will be coming in from the south.
The northern extent of this push of relatively warmer air will
again open up the forecast challenge of determining where the
elusive rain/snow line will be established. Combined with the
notion that any existing snow on the ground could contribute to
evaporative cooling makes this event too difficult to speculate on
particular impacts with any certainty at this time. What is known
is that this does look to have a tropical connection unlike it's
predecessor which could bring a decent amount of precip to the
region. After this system passes, another brief break in the
active weather pattern looks on tap before yet another system
potentially makes its way toward the region late week.

&&

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...Strong Wind until 9 PM AKST this evening for AKZ018.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ012-013-041>043-051-052.

&&

EAL/JDR

Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/Juneau

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 30, 10:27 AM AKST, 5 hours 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JUNEAU AK
1027 AM AKST SAT JAN 30 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 AM     SNOW             8 NW KETCHIKAN          55.45N 131.81W
01/30/2021  M6.5 INCH        KETCHIKAN GATEWAY  AK   TRAINED SPOTTER

            6.5 INCHES TOTAL IN THE PAST 24 HOURS ENDING
            AROUND 10 AM.

&&

CM

The office that day

Everything else NWS Juneau, AK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 30, 10:46 PM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK29 hr
Jan 31, 3:42 AM AKSTGale WarningAJK25 hr
Jan 31, 3:42 AM AKSTSmall Craft AdvisoryAJK25 hr
Jan 31, 5:44 AM AKSTWinter Storm WatchAJK9 hr
Jan 31, 5:44 AM AKSTWinter Storm WarningAJK23 hr
Jan 31, 5:44 AM AKSTWinter Weather AdvisoryAJK41 hr

Nearby

Small Craft Advisories in Alaska, 2021Every small craft advisory in 2021

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.