Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Outer Apostle Islands Through Monday Morning

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Duluth, MN, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and a Small Craft Advisory for the region. The warning indicates that heavy freezing spray is likely to accumulate rapidly on vessels, posing a significant hazard to maritime operations.

Affected Areas

The alert specifically covers the Outer Apostle Islands Beyond 5 NM from Mainland.

What You Should Do

Mariners are advised to prepare for dangerous accumulations of ice on their vessels. The NWS recommends the following actions:

• Remain in port if possible.
• Avoid the warning area entirely.
• Conduct ice mitigation if already at sea.
• Operators of smaller vessels should avoid navigating in these hazardous conditions to prevent potential loss of stability.

Expected Conditions

According to the NWS, the following conditions are expected during the warning period:

• Ice Accumulation: Heavy freezing spray at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater.
• Wind: North winds between 10 to 20 knots, with gusts reaching up to 25 knots.
• Waves: Wave heights between 3 to 6 feet.

Operating a vessel under these conditions is extremely hazardous. Rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures can lead to a catastrophic loss of stability and may render mechanical or electronic components inoperative.

Timeline

The Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and Small Craft Advisory are effective immediately and will remain in effect until 6:00 AM CST Monday, February 23, 2026.