Special Weather StatementAKZ017>029-140100-CAPE FAIRWEATHER TO CAPE SUCKLING COASTAL AREA-TAIYA INLET AND KLONDIKE HIGHWAY-HAINES BOROUGH AND LYNN CANAL-GLACIER BAY-EASTERN CHICHAGOF ISLAND-SALISBURY SOUND TO CAPE FAIRWEATHER COASTAL AREA-CAPE DECISION TO SALISBURY SOUND COASTAL AREA-EASTERN BARANOF ISLAND AND SOUTHERN ADMIRALTY ISLAND-JUNEAU BOROUGH AND NORTHERN ADMIRALTY ISLAND-INNER CHANNELS FROM KUPREANOF ISLAND TO ETOLIN ISLAND-DIXON ENTRANCE TO CAPE DECISION COASTAL AREA-SOUTHERN INNER CHANNELS-MISTY FJORDS-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…YAKUTAT…SKAGWAY…HAINES…GUSTAVUS…HOONAH…ELFIN COVE…PELICAN…SITKA…PORT ALEXANDER…ANGOON…JUNEAU…PETERSBURG…WRANGELL…KAKE…CRAIG…KLAWOCK…KETCHIKAN…METLAKATLA…HYDER830 PM AKST THU JAN 12 2012…VERY COLD AND WINDY CONDITIONS FOR THE PANHANDLE THIS WEEKENDAND NEXT WEEK…THE WEATHER PATTERN ACROSS SOUTHEAST ALASKA WILL TURN VERY COLDAND WINDY STARTING LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AND PERSIST THROUGH NEXTWEEK. A STRONG HIGH PRESSURE CENTER WILL BUILD OVER THE YUKONFRIDAY NIGHT AND THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE SATURDAY. THIS HIGHPRESSURE WILL SEND VERY COLD ARCTIC AIR ACROSS THE AREA CAUSINGTEMPERATURES TO FALL THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY INTO THE 20S OVER THENORTHERN AREAS AND LOWER 30S OVER THE SOUTHERN AREA. TEMPERATURESWILL CONTINUE TO FALL THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH HIGHS RANGING FROMTHE SINGLE DIGITS OVER THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE PANHANDLE TO THEMID 20S TO MID TEENS OVER THE SOUTHERN THIRD. LOW TEMPERATURES WILLRANGE FROM BELOW ZERO OVER THE NORTHERN HALF TO LOW TEENS OVER THESOUTH THIRD. THE COLD AIR WILL PERSIST INTO NEXT WEEK AND HIGHTEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM SINGLE DIGITS OVER THE NORTHERN HALFAND NEAR 20 OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF. LOWS WILL REMAIN BELOW ZERO TOSINGLE DIGITS. PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO KEEP PIPES FROMFREEZING SINCE MANY LOCATIONS ACROSS SOUTHEAST ALASKA ARE SNOWFREE.ALONG WITH THE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES THE HIGH PRESSURE WILLPRODUCE VERY STRONG WINDS FROM THE NORTHEAST. WINDS WILL INCREASETHROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT AND PERSIST INTO NEXT WEEK. MARINE WATERSWILL SEE WIDESPREAD GALES OVER THE NORTHERN TWO THIRDS WITH GUSTSFROM 60 TO 70 KT OUT OF INTERIOR PASSES OVER THE INNER CHANNELS ANDOVER THE NORTHEAST GULF. THE STRONG WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURESWILL PRODUCE HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAYAND CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THERE WILL ALSO BE VERY STRONGWIND GUSTS IN EXPOSED AREAS AND NEAR INTERIOR PASSES OVER LANDAREAS. THE JUNEAU AREA CAN EXPECT TAKU WINDS TO DEVELOP LATEFRIDAY NIGHT AND PERSIST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE COMBINATION OFTHE STRONG WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE VERY COLD WINDCHILLS RANGING FROM -30 OVER THE FAR NORTHERN AREAS TO -10 OVERTHE CENTRAL INNER CHANNELS.$$