Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Passage Canal Through Friday Morning

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) Anchorage AK has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for the Passage Canal region. This alert is classified as severe with a high certainty of occurrence, indicating significant hazards for maritime activities in the area.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic region affected by this warning is Passage Canal (PKZ723), part of the coastal waters forecast for the Northern Gulf of Alaska Coast.

What You Should Do

According to the National Weather Service, individuals and mariners should avoid the area during the warning period. Heavy freezing spray can cause rapid ice accumulation on vessels, which may lead to stability issues and hazardous conditions.

Expected Conditions

Conditions in Passage Canal are expected to deteriorate as follows:

• Thursday: West winds of 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots. Seas are expected to be around 4 feet with heavy freezing spray.
• Thursday Night: West winds of 25 knots and seas of 4 feet. Heavy freezing spray will continue through the night.
• Tonight (Pre-onset): West winds of 35 knots with gusts up to 50 knots and seas of 5 feet are expected prior to the official warning window.

Timeline

The Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is officially effective starting at 5:00 AM AKST on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 5:00 AM AKST on Friday, February 27, 2026.