Wind advisory, heavy rain target southern Southeast Alaska through Monday evening

Prince of Wales Island faces a Wind Advisory and up to 2 inches of rain through Monday evening as a series of fronts pushes through southern Southeast Alaska, the National Weather Service Juneau Forecast Office said Sunday.

The Wind Advisory covers Prince of Wales Island, Sitka, Wrangell, and Ketchikan Gateway Borough and runs until 7 p.m. Monday, July 6. Southeast winds of 20 to 25 mph are expected, with gusts up to 45 mph. NWS Juneau has also issued special weather statements for Prince of Wales Island, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, and Annette Island, noting gusts up to 40 mph are possible Monday along with heavy rain. Forecasters put 24-hour rain totals for Prince of Wales Island between 1 and 2 inches, with the heaviest band arriving Monday afternoon. Ketchikan and Annette Island are in line for more, with 24-hour totals forecast between 2 and 3 inches and rain rates reaching up to 0.15 inches per hour at the peak.

NWS Juneau described the system as bringing "This system is expected to bring unseasonably heavier rainfall along with some gusty winds Monday and Tuesday, particularly for the southern..." panhandle. The office noted that "Confidence continues to increase for 24 hour rainfall totals on Monday between 2.00 and 3.00 for Annette Island and Ketchikan, and between 1.00 and 2.00 inches for Prince of Wales Island. Localized areas may see either higher or lower amounts due to the terrain influence."

Commercial fishers and mariners operating between Prince of Wales Island, Ketchikan, and Annette Island rely on NWS zone forecasts and advisories to make safety decisions ahead of the work week.

NWS Juneau has tracked this system since at least Thursday, issuing a series of special weather statements as confidence in rainfall totals and wind timing increased. Mariners and residents should check updated advisories at forecast.weather.gov as conditions develop Sunday night into Monday.