Ketchikan, Alaska 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

914
FXAK67 PAJK 150036
AFDAJK

Southeast Alaska Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Juneau AK
336 PM AKST Wed Jan 14 2026

.SHORT TERM...
As of 2pm Wednesday morning our energetic storm force low has
jumped into the Yukon, with storm force winds subsiding across the
inside. Some light rain is out and about from moist southwest
onshore flow, keeping some shower activity on through the day. A
juicy chunk of convection driving thunderstorms is currently
reaching the coast, bringing graupel/sleet along with some
lightning and gusty winds. Overnight Wednesday a prominent ridge
builds across the area bringing much quieter weather for
southeast. Expect precip to trend down and winds to slacken;
exception will be the northern coast. Friday a plume of moisture
will move toward the northern coast bringing rain to sea level
locations from Cape St. Elias toward Sitka and north.

.LONG TERM...Relatively quiet way to end the week and continuing
far into next week. Ridging aloft and strong WWA Friday looks to
mostly dry out the mid and upper layer of the atmosphere, which
also directs the late week atmospheric river toward the Anchorage
area. Residual moisture, light winds from a lax pressure gradient
and little sunlight, and some clearing, particularly in the
southern half, will pave the way for widespread fog concerns,
particularly overnight Friday and overnight Saturday. Going into
next week, comparatively weak surface ridging in Canada look to
bring in enough cold air to the panhandle to bring us back from
our above normal temperatures down to near normal.


&&

.AVIATION...
Variable flying conditions continue as showers move over
the area. Ceilings remain AoA 2500 ft with visibilities AoA 6 SM.
The lowest of these conditions occur when moderate showers move over
an area. Showers will continue to be the main story through
tomorrow. Along with these showers, isolated thunderstorms along the
gulf from Sitka to the Fairweather area have occurred throughout the
day. These thunderstorms are not too strong, but they can create
isolated lightning strikes and sporadic and gusty winds.

Precipitation should mainly remain as rain throughout the TAF
period, but there is a chance that temperatures near Yakutat drop
just enough to have precipitation fall as snow or mainly a rain/snow
mix. This change in precipitation type would occur just overnight
before we start to see temperatures once again increase tomorrow
morning.

There continues to be a chance of fog developing overnight due to
clearing conditions and a building ridge over the southern
panhandle. This fog will continue to be a main impact, especially
over the south, into the weekend. This fog can easily reduce
visibilities to below 2 SM to as low as 1/4 SM.

&&

.MARINE...
Outside (Gulf and Coastal waters):
As of 2pm Wednesday winds across the eastern gulf and northern
coast are southwest, reaching fresh to strong breezes. Sea state
overnight was intense, with 84 reaching 34ft at 15 seconds from an
extensive dynamic fetch of storm force winds. One note, 84 was on
the eastern flank of this fetch, with near 40ft seas likely
impacting coastal areas near the Fairweather grounds. This
afternoon sea state is relaxing, with a prominent southerly focus
of wave energy at 11 to 13 seconds 13 to 17 ft. A secondary wave
system is present, wind waves generated from SW post frontal fresh
to strong breezes, driving west southwest seas focused at 6 to 8
seconds near 8 to 10 ft. Anticipating winds to continue to trend
downward through the next 12 hours for the gulf, with southerly
seas bottoming out near 10 to 13 ft. Thursday a gale force system
will lift toward the AK Peninsula, freshening up easterly winds
along the northern coast to gale force, with Cape Suckling seeing
localized storm force conditions by Thursday night. Fresh seas of
20 ft are forecasted for the northern coast by Thursday night.

Inside (Inner Channels):
Storm force winds that impacted many inner channels early
Wednesday morning continue to subside this afternoon, with winds
as of 2pm Wednesday near moderate to fresh breezes across much of
the region. Onshore flow continues to push showers over the
Panhandle, with a slight chance of thunderstorms into Wednesday
evening. Main threat will be gusty winds in the vicinity of these
showers. Overnight winds slacken bringing some fog concerns for
protected areas. Light winds continue Thursday with much of the
channels seeing winds less than 20 knots. Lynn Canal will be the
exception, anticipate strong breezes out of the south to continue
Wednesday night into early Thursday, diminishing into the evening.


&&

.AJK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PUBLIC...None.
MARINE...Gale Warning for PKZ652-672.
     Small Craft Advisory for PKZ012-013-021-022-031-033-034-053-
     641>644-651-661>664-671.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...AP
LONG TERM...NC
AVIATION...EAB
MARINE...AP

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