Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Sitkinak to Castle Cape Waters

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Anchorage, AK, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for coastal waters. This alert is effective starting at 5:00 PM AKST on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the maritime region from Sitkinak to Castle Cape, extending from 15 to 100 nautical miles out. This includes coastal waters for Southwest Alaska, Bristol Bay, the Alaska Peninsula Waters, and the Aleutian Islands.

What You Should Do

Mariners and residents in the affected maritime zones are advised to avoid the area. Heavy freezing spray can cause rapid ice accumulation on vessels, which poses a significant threat to stability and safety at sea.

Expected Conditions

According to the Coastal Waters Forecast, the following conditions are expected:

• Tonight: Northwest winds at 40 knots with seas reaching 14 feet. Heavy freezing spray is expected.
• Thursday: Northwest winds at 30 knots and 11-foot seas with continued freezing spray.
• Thursday Night: Northwest winds at 25 knots and 6-foot seas with freezing spray.
• Extended Outlook: Northeast winds of 20 to 30 knots and seas between 5 and 10 feet are expected through Monday.

Timeline

The Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is in effect from 5:00 PM AKST on February 25 until 5:00 AM AKST on February 26, 2026.