...HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL PRIMARILY FOR SOUTHERN PANHANDLE LATE WEEK... Thursday into Friday, an impactful frontal system, with an associated weak to moderate Atmospheric River, primarily aimed at the southern Panhandle, will move over southeast Alaska. This system will bring moderate to heavy rainfall and strong winds to a widespread area. The heaviest precipitation looks to focus over the southern panhandle with up to 2 inches of rain in 24 hours. Around southern Baranof Island and at higher elevations, rain totals around or greater than 3 inches are possible in 24 hours. The Northeast Gulf Coast areas, including Yakutat, look to receive up to 2 inches, as well. The heaviest of this precipitation is expected to fall Thursday over areas along the Outer Coast and southern Panhandle. There are strong indicators in model guidance that winds over the eastern Gulf, Clarence Strait, and near Dixon Entrance will reach gale force of 35 to 45 kts as the front pushes through Thursday. Land areas in the southern panhandle will experience wind gusts around 35 to 40 mph, and areas near Yakutat look to reach gusts up to 30 to 35 mph. We will continue to monitor this developing weather situation and issue further updates as it gets closer.
