AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL IS APPROACHING SOUTHEAST ALASKA FROM THE WEST WITH THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL ARRIVING SUNDAY NIGHT. PREVIOUS FORECASTS HAVE FOCUSED ON THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN OVER THE SOUTHERN PANHANDLE. HOWEVER, LATEST MODE DATA INDICATES THAT THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE WILL ALSO EXPERIENCE MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH AMOUNTS AS MUCH OR MORE THAN EXPECTED FOR THE SOUTHERN ZONES. AT PRESENT, RAINFALL ON SUNDAY NIGHT APPEARS TO BE THE HEAVIEST FOR THIS MULTI-DAY EVENT WITH ACCUMULATIONS AS HIGH AS 1.5 INCHES BY MONDAY MORNING. LESSER AMOUNTS ARE FORECAST FOR MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. RAINFALL RATES SUCH AS THIS ARE CONSIDERED NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR AND ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE EXCESSIVE. THIS IS, HOWEVER, THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT RAINY PERIOD OF THE FALL SEASON AND MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO SOME. RIVERS, CREEKS, AND STREAMS WILL RESPOND TO THIS MUCH RAINFALL, WITH MORE FLASHY STREAMS RESPONDING THE MOST WITH TONIGHT'S RAINFALL. AT THIS TIME, NO FLOODING IS EXPECTED. MOST WINDY CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR TONIGHT AS WELL WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO AS MUCH AS 20 MPH IN INLAND LOCATIONS WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 30 TO 35 MPH NEAR COASTAL LOCATIONS ON THE INNER CHANNELS AND OUTER COAST. KEEP UP WITH CURRENT CONDITIONS AND FORECAST UPDATES DURING THIS EVENT AT WEATHER.GOV/JUNEAU.
