Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Northern Lynn Canal Through Sunday Morning

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Juneau has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for the Northern Lynn Canal. The alert was issued on February 21 at 10:43 AM AKST and remains in effect until Sunday morning.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the Northern Lynn Canal, including Southeast Alaska Inside Waters from Dixon Entrance to Skagway.

What You Should Do

According to the National Weather Service, the recommended response is to avoid the area. Heavy freezing spray can cause rapid ice accumulation on vessels, which poses a significant risk to maritime stability and safety.

Expected Conditions

Weather conditions in the affected region are expected to be severe:

• Winds: North winds are currently at 45 knots, increasing to 50 knots tonight with gusts as high as 65 knots. Storm force winds up to 50 knots will continue through Sunday.
• Seas: Average wave heights are forecast at 13 feet today, rising to 14 feet tonight and peaking at 15 feet on Sunday.
• Accumulation: Freezing spray is expected today, with heavy freezing spray conditions developing tonight and persisting through Sunday.

Timeline

The Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is effective through 5:00 AM AKST on Sunday, February 22. While heavy spray is expected to subside by Sunday night, gale-force winds of 45 knots and standard freezing spray will likely continue into the evening. Conditions are forecast to improve by Monday with winds dropping to 30 knots and seas subsiding to 7 feet.