Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Kupreanof, AK

AVIATION
/through 06z Saturday/...
Mixed bag of flight categories across the area this evening with persistent moist southerly flow and rain overspreading over the panhandle TAF sites as a weakening low in the northern gulf shifts westward towards Prince William Sound. Sustained winds should remain around 10kts or less, going near calm and variable for much of the panhandle through Friday night. However, can't rule out isolated gusts up to 20kts for the usual suspects like Yakutat, Haines, and Skagway through 12z. With saturated low levels and decreasing winds, anticipating predominate MVFR to IFR flight categories to continue or develop through tonight, driven by widespread CIGS AoB 2500ft and intermittent reduced vsbys down to 3 to 5SM.

Precipitation will gradually decrease in coverage through mid morning Saturday and into the afternoon as surface ridging shifts overhead, with MVFR to low-end VFR flight conditions prevailing after 00z. No LLWS concerns through the TAF period.



MARINE
Outside: Friday afternoon satellite derived winds highlighted the SE fresh to strong breezes weakening as W-SW winds of moderate to fresh breezes moves in along our coast. Buoy 84 wave spectrum indicated swell domination, focused at 6 to 8ft near 11s from the SW, with seas less than 4ft out of the SE. Expect WSW swell to continue over the next 24 hours with significant heights near 5 to 7ft. Main threat for westerly fresh breezes is for mariners operating along Chatham/Sumner ocean entrances and west coast of Prince of Wales into Dixon Entrance.

A gale force low center will be located off the coast of Haida Gwaii late Sunday increasing ESE winds to near-gale force for our coastal waters in the southern Panhandle. There is growing confidence for gale force southerly winds in Hecate Strait Monday which would drive fresh seas of 9 to 12ft into far southern Clarence Strait.

Inside: Chatham Strait and Stephens Passage is currently seeing a surge of southerly winds reaching near 15 knots. The afternoon forecast package has delayed this surge into Lynn Canal a few hours, with this push of elevated southerly winds likely overnight. By Saturday morning winds across most of the area will be light with some low clouds and light rain; however, things should clear up a bit in the afternoon. Main threat for southerly moderate breezes Saturday will be northern Lynn Canal.

AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory for PKZ661-663-664.