Special Weather Statement by NOAA and National Weather Service

NOAA and the National Weather Service have issued a Special Weather Statement detailing approaching Gale-force frontal systems, bringing wind and heavy rain to portions of the Panhandle, Inner Channels, and Outside waters over the next few days with the following concerns:

For the Panhandle:

Beginning Tuesday afternoon, a pair of systems will move into the Panhandle, bringing with them windy conditions and heavy rain at times. Model guidance has come to consensus on the arrival of an initial front which will begin moving into the outer Gulf Coast and the Southern Panhandle Tuesday afternoon as it sweeps up from the South, before advancing North through the evening and overnight hours. Widespread rainfall, and gusty conditions will occur as the system moves through before onshore flow takes over on Wednesday.

The onshore flow will prove to be a harbinger of another system, one which will bring between 1-3" of rain across the Panhandle, with the greatest totals for the Northern half. There is more spread in ensemble guidance with this system, but it is looking increasingly likely to be largely focused on the northeast Gulf Coast, including the Icy Strait Corridor initially as a frontal band with an associated plume of moisture arrives on Thursday. Heavy rain is expected at times from Icy Bay down through Sitka. The band of moisture will shift eastward Thursday afternoon through Thursday night, weakening as it traverses SE AK before largely falling apart as it approaches the Southern Panhandle. River rises are possible for the northern half of the Panhandle with this second system, but no significant flooding is anticipated.

Link to Up-to-Date Special Weather Statement

For Marine Areas:

An incoming front for Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night will be bringing higher than usual winds and seas for this time of year to large parts of the Gulf waters and Southern Inner Channels. Sustained winds of around 40 kt Gales out of the SE are expected across the near coastal Gulf waters with seas reaching 15 feet. The Southern Inner Channels will see around 35 to 40 kt Gales with seas approaching 8 feet with possibly higher seas near ocean entrances. Highest winds and seas are expected Tuesday night.

Link to Up-to-Date Marine Weather Statement