Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Sitkinak to Castle Cape Through Tuesday Morning
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 3, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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The National Weather Service has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for coastal waters from Sitkinak to Castle Cape, with extreme ice accumulation expected through early Tuesday.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning
- Affected area
- Southwest Alaska Coastal Waters
- Issued
- April 3, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Anchorage
The warning type, named area, and issue time define this record. Confirm all three against the original agency notice before treating it as current.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Southwest Alaska Coastal Waters.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Anchorage, AK, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning. This alert is effective starting at 5:00 AM AKDT on Monday, March 16, and remains in effect until 5:00 AM AKDT on Tuesday, March 17.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the coastal waters from Sitkinak to Castle Cape out to 15 nautical miles (NM).
What You Should Do
Mariners and vessel operators are advised to avoid the warning area. Extreme freezing spray can rapidly accumulate on vessels, significantly increasing the risk of capsizing or equipment failure. The NWS response recommendation for this event is to avoid the affected waters.
Expected Conditions
Extreme conditions are forecast for the region, including:
- Freezing Spray: Extreme freezing spray at a rate of 4 cm per hour or greater is expected to rapidly accumulate on vessels.
- Wind Speeds: Northwest winds are expected to reach 45 to 50 knots, with gusts up to 60 knots occurring out of bays and passes.
- Sea States: Average sea heights are forecast between 9 and 11 feet.
Timeline
- Monday, March 16: Warning begins at 5:00 AM AKDT. NW winds of 50 knots and seas of 10 feet are expected.
- Monday Night: NW winds of 50 knots and seas of 11 feet continue.
- Tuesday, March 17: The warning expires at 5:00 AM AKDT. Conditions will remain hazardous through Tuesday with NW winds of 45 knots and 9-foot seas.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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