Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Adak, AK

.SHORT TERM FORECAST SOUTHWEST ALASKA/BERING SEA/ALEUTIANS (Days 1 through 3: This afternoon through Thursday evening)...

Cold temperatures and dry conditions will continue across the Southwestern Mainland through much of this week. The gusty conditions that brought instances of blowing snow across the coast and Nelson Island will continue to abate through the rest of today and this week. However, cold wind chills of 20 to 30 below zero will be commonplace this week as the cold airmass is in firm control. The coldest of the apparent temperatures will be felt during nighttime and early mornings. A shortwave dropping in from the north may clip northern portions of the Kuskokwim Valley Thursday night into Friday morning bringing very light snow to the area.

The next front/low combinations enter the western Bering Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning, bringing a round of rainfall and potentially some gale-force winds to the Western Aleutians.
Models are in fairly good agreement on the idea that the system remains mainly confined to the Western Aleutians and the western Bering as the strong upper level ridge remains centered over the Aleutian Chain through midweek.

.LONG TERM FORECAST (Days 4 through 7: Friday through Monday)...

The long term starts out with a deep blocking high over the Bering Sea that will amplify as a strong upper level shortwave and arctic airmass drops south over the state. This will lead to more of the same conditions for the southern Mainland with potential for high winds out of all of the north-south oriented mountain passes and coastal gaps from the AKPen east into Southcentral. The main weather threat will be cold wind chills and ambient temperatures in addition to the strong winds. Virtually the entire forecast area will remain dry (possibly for a few more weeks), but some light snow is possible along the northern faces of the Alaska Range, Chugach and Kodiak Island. Some forecast guidance indicates the surface low(s) may retrograde back towards the east on Monday, which would bring some light snow, but overall forecast confidence in this feature is low and the pobabilities of this are lower. Most things point to continued cold and breezy, with areas of high winds possible.

-CJ


AVIATION

PANC...VFR conditions with gusty northerly winds will continue as stiff northerly winds come down the Knik Arm and clip the west side of Anchorage. Winds decrease significantly going eastward, such that there may be a noticeable difference in speed on the west side of the terminal vs. east side at times. Winds diminish after 09/09Z, becoming 10kts or less after 09/15Z.