Winter Storm Warning 5, NWS Juneau, AK

Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
541 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2025

.SHORT TERM.../Tuesday/...A storm force front will continue to
move through the panhandle during the day on Tuesday, dropping an
additional 1-2 inches of rain on top of what has already fallen.
The system will depart through the late morning and afternoon
hours on Tuesday, leaving showers in its wake. A weak wave moving
through during the overnight hours into Wednesday will bring with
it a chance for more frequent showers across the northern half of
the area, but am not expecting anything significant in the way of
QPF totals with this wave. Snowfall along the Klondike Highways
will likewise wind down through the morning hours on Tuesday as
the system departs the area.

Winds will continue their downward trend through the day, with
many areas seeing winds becoming variable in the wake of the
front, before southerly flow starts to resume Tuesday night.
Temperatures will remain well above normal, with high temperatures
reaching into the 40s for most locations.

.LONG TERM...A series of lows continue to track into the Alaskan
Gulf continuing a very active and warm period. After the current
strong low in gulf dissipates, there will be a slight break in
precipitation and winds before the next strong low arrives late
Wednesday into Thursday. Heavy rain is expected Thursday brining 2
to 4 inches of precipitation, with potential higher amounts near
the northeastern gulf coast. The main impacts from this strong low
will be the chance of rising creeks and streams, to above
bankfull, with snow melt and additional rain. Temperatures stay
above normal values allowing for this continued snow melt to
occur. Higher elevations, along the Haines and Klondike Highways,
may see heavy snow as well. Although, snow levels will continue to
rise potentially decreasing snow amounts for the highways.

As for winds, the low moving into the gulf late Wednesday into
Thursday is another potential storm force low. The strongest winds
are going to be located along the coast with seas as high as 30 to
35 ft. After the Thursday low, the pattern continues to stay active
as a series of lows track along the Aleutian Islands, heading toward
southeast Alaska.

&&

.AVIATION...
Predominate MVFR flight conditions under scattered rain showers
expected as initial front pushes out of the Panhandle through mid
Tuesday. Rain chances decrease with slight improvement to upper
end/MVFR to low end VFR flight conditions through the afternoon
with CIGS AoB 3000 to 5000ft post front. Sustained winds around 15
to 25kts will decrease to around 10kts or less through the
afternoon. LLWS will gradually ease through the mid morning and
into afternoon as aforementioned front pushes out of the area.
Another weak front pushes back into the N Panhandle by late
Tuesday night, returning precipitation chances back to the area.

&&

.MARINE...Mariners operating in the Inner Channels late Monday
and Tuesday can expect near- Gale to Gale force southeasterly
winds for exposed areas like Chatham and Clarence Straits, and
fresh to strong breezes for inland channels such as Stephens
Passage and Lynn Canal, though winds will be decreasing through
the afternoon on Tuesday. Winds and waves continue to decrease
Wednesday, but another strong system will move into the Gulf
Thursday.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...An atmospheric river moving through on Tuesday has a
small chance of bringing flooding issues. It does however prime
the region, and start the snowmelt process. The second feature
will take advantage of the prep, and increased snow levels and
rain to add more snow melt into the rivers and streams.

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...Winter Storm Warning until 9 AM AKST this morning for
AKZ318.
MARINE...Gale Warning for PKZ031-034-036-641-642-661.
Small Craft Advisory for PKZ012-013-022-033-035-053-643-644-651-
652-662>664-671-672.

&&

SHORT TERM...GFS
LONG TERM....EAB
AVIATION...NM
MARINE..GFS/Bezenek

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

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Juneau AK
910 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2025

AKZ317>332-081815-
City and Borough of Yakutat-Municipality of Skagway-
Haines Borough and Klukwan-Glacier Bay-Eastern Chichagof Island-
Cape Fairweather to Lisianski Strait-City and Borough of Sitka-
Admiralty Island-City and Borough of Juneau-Petersburg Borough-
Western Kupreanof Island and Kuiu Island-Prince of Wales Island-
City and Borough of Wrangell-Ketchikan Gateway Borough-
City of Hyder-Annette Island-
Including the cities of Yakutat, Skagway, White Pass, Haines,
Gustavus, Hoonah, Tenakee Springs, Elfin Cove, Pelican, Sitka,
Angoon, Juneau, Petersburg, Kake, Port Alexander, Craig, Klawock,
Hydaburg, Coffman Cove, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, Ketchikan, Hyder,
and Metlakatla
910 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2025

...ACTIVE WET WEATHER CONTINUING FOR THE PANHANDLE THROUGH THIS
WEEK...

A WET FRONT THAT WENT THROUGH THE PANHANDLE MONDAY NIGHT DROPPED
AROUND 1 TO 2.5 INCHES OF RAIN ACROSS THE AREA. LOW ELEVATION
SNOWMELT IS ALSO CONTINUING WITH FREEZING LEVELS REMAINING AROUND
2000 TO 3000 FT PANHANDLE WIDE.

A SECOND FEATURE, AS STRONG OR STRONGER THAN THE MONDAY NIGHT
FRONT, IS EXPECTED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED
TO RISE HIGHER (4000 TO 5000 FT) AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS
EXPECTED (1 TO 3 INCHES MORE) THAT WILL ADD MORE SNOWMELT. RIVER
AND STREAMS WILL GET A CHANCE TO RECOVER WEDNESDAY AND EARLY
THURSDAY BEFORE THE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WITH THE NEXT FRONT. THE
NEXT FRONT MAY CAUSE AREA WATERWAYS TO RISE QUICKLY AGAIN AS THE
FIRST FRONT PRIMED THE RIVER AND SOIL CONDITIONS TO PRODUCE
BANKFUL TO FLOODING CONDITIONS. LOCALIZED FLOODING DUE TO DRAINAGE
ISSUES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE LATE THIS WEEK.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Juneau AK
934 AM AKST Tue Jan 7 2025

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

0847 AM     Snow             White Pass              59.63N 135.16W
01/07/2025  E8.0 Inch        Skagway            AK   Dept of Highways

            Around 4 to 8 inches of snow on the Klondike
            Highway overnight from mile 12 to the
            border.

&&