Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Barren Islands East

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) Anchorage AK has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for the Barren Islands East region. The alert was issued on February 25 at 3:16 AM AKST and remains in effect until late Thursday afternoon. A Hurricane Force Wind Warning is also in effect for the area today.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic area affected is Barren Islands East (PKZ731). This includes the coastal waters for the Northern Gulf of Alaska Coast up to 100 nautical miles out, encompassing regions near Kodiak Island and Cook Inlet.

What You Should Do

Operating vessels in these conditions is extremely hazardous. The NWS response instruction is to avoid the area. Extreme freezing spray at a rate of 4 cm per hour or greater may rapidly accumulate on vessels, which can significantly impact vessel stability and safety.

Expected Conditions

• Wind Speed: Northwest winds are forecast at 65 knots today, diminishing to 55 knots tonight (further decreasing to 45 knots after midnight), and 40 knots on Thursday.
• Sea Conditions: Seas are expected to reach 17 feet today, 15 feet tonight, and 13 feet on Thursday.
• Accumulation: Heavy freezing spray is expected throughout the period. Extreme freezing spray rates of 4 cm per hour or greater are possible today.
• Precipitation: Snow showers are expected tonight.

Timeline

The warning is effective immediately as of February 25, 2026. The Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is scheduled to expire on February 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM AKST.