Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Shelikof Strait Through Friday Afternoon

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Anchorage, AK, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for the Shelikof Strait. This alert is in effect from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon. A Storm Warning is also in effect for the region during this period.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the Shelikof Strait (PKZ738) within the coastal waters of the Northern Gulf of Alaska, including areas up to 100 nm out from the coast.

What You Should Do

The National Weather Service advises mariners to avoid the affected waters. Heavy freezing spray can cause significant ice accumulation on vessels, which may lead to stability issues and hazardous maritime conditions.

Expected Conditions

Conditions are expected to deteriorate tonight with northwest winds of 35 knots increasing to 50 knots. Wind gusts out of bays and passes are forecast to reach 70 knots overnight. Seas are expected to be around 11 feet. On Friday, northwest winds will remain high at 50 knots before diminishing to 40 knots in the afternoon, with gusts up to 65 knots and seas reaching 12 feet. Heavy freezing spray is expected to persist throughout these conditions.

Timeline

The Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is effective as of 3:15 PM AKST on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 5:00 PM AKST on Friday, February 20, 2026.