Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Wrangell and, AK

SHORT TERM
/ Through Tuesday night / Low over the south central panhandle through Wednesday, and this had been keeping most of showers limited to the southern panhandle. There are a few clusters of showers, one is moving into western Prince of Wales island about 5 am and there is a second cluster out over the southeast gulf, and that will probably make land fall between 8 and 11 am in the same are. Some these could be stronger showers, with some locally gust winds, and possibly sleet.

As the low weakens and pulls to the southeast, look for clearing for the northern portion of the panhandle through the afternoon and evening. The only issue for the northern panhandle is a trough between Yakutat and Glacier Bay that has clouds streaming Southwest out to the gulf. Closer to the surface the trough positions may lead to some upslope on the Canadian side of the border but could spread some light snow into the northern Lynn Canal area Tuesday morning.

The moving ridge over the gulf nudges some clearing/drying conditions for Wednesday.

LONG TERM
The low impacting the southern panhandle Tuesday will continue to dip south into Wednesday, allowing for skies over the rest of the panhandle to clear out. A broad upper level ridge develops, with the associated surface level ridging positioned to continue onshore flow into the panhandle. Mid level moisture looks to move into the northern panhandle with a shortwave trough on Wednesday night, allowing for light snow in Yakutat and parts of the far northern panhandle Thursday morning. Snow is not really expected to stick for these locations as temperatures remain around freezing, though higher elevation areas and the Klondike and Haines Highways may see up to an inch. This precipitation will be a mix or all rain for the rest of the northern and central panhandle Wednesday, moving into parts of the southern panhandle through Wednesday night into Thursday. Showers are expected to continue until Thursday night, when a more organized front moves into the panhandle from northwest to southeast. This will bring widespread precipitation to the panhandle Friday into Saturday, though QPF remains on the lower side. Again, Yakutat and the northern highways may see snow with this front, though daytime temperatures should only allow for minimal, if any, accumulation.
Precipitation is expected to taper down through Saturday, though it may not completely stop until Sunday. The only real wind issue is expected near the typical hot spots from Thursday into Friday as the front moves inland, with Lynn Canal, southern Stephens Passage near Five Finger Lighthouse, and around Point Couverden potentially seeing small craft advisories through this period.

AVIATION
Showers have largely come to an end across a majority of the panhandle Tuesday morning with clearing north of Sitka.
Some patchy fog may develop but should quickly dissipate with daytime heating. Some isolated showers remain possible over the next few hours primarily for the southern panhandle, but overall improving trend throughout the day Tuesday.

MARINE
Outside Waters: A general trough extends form the southern panhandle towards Prince William Sound Tuesday as a low over the southern panhandle falls apart. Long, wide fetches with consistent westerly winds look to build seas from 5 ft up to 10-13 ft at 9 to 10 seconds before diminishing slowly Tuesday night.

Inside Waters: A low positioned between Sumner Strait and Frederick Sounds this morning will see this low weaken and slide SE through day falling apart by afternoon. Winds for the northern channels in the 10 to 15 kt range. The southern panhandle winds look to lighter today, although wider portions of Clarence Strait may see a more Southwest direction for the wind.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ641-642-661>663.