Storm Warning Issued for Gulf of Alaska: 55-Knot Winds and 29-Foot Seas Forecast

Source: NOAA · Gulf of Alaska

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The National Weather Service has issued a storm warning for the Gulf of Alaska, with storm-force winds and seas up to 29 feet expected through Thursday morning.

What this NWS weather alert tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by NOAA on February 11, 2026 and geographically references Gulf of Alaska. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Weather Alerts — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly NOAA detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized NWS weather alert is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (weather, alert, StormWarning, GulfOfAlaska) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Juneau, Alaska, has issued a Storm Warning for offshore waters. The alert is currently effective and remains in place until 5:00 AM AKST on February 12, 2026. The specific alert type is classified under NWS code SRW.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following maritime region:

  • Gulf of Alaska: Specifically the area south of 57 Degrees North and east of 144 W (Zone PKZ312).

What You Should Do

Residents and mariners in the affected area are advised to avoid travel and operations within the warning zone. The NWS recommends taking immediate precautions to protect life and property from hazardous sea conditions and high winds.

Expected Conditions

Significant maritime hazards are forecast for the duration of this event:

  • Wind Speed: East winds of 35 knots tonight will increase to South 55 knots late. On Thursday, West storm-force winds will reach up to 55 knots before diminishing to gale-force at 45 knots in the afternoon.
  • Sea Heights: Seas are expected to build from 16 feet to 23 feet tonight, peaking at 29 feet on Thursday. Conditions will subside to 15–19 feet by Thursday night.
  • Precipitation: Rain is expected throughout Wednesday afternoon, tonight, and Thursday morning.

Timeline

  • Onset: The most severe conditions begin at 5:00 PM AKST on Wednesday, February 11.
  • Peak Intensity: Storm-force winds and maximum sea heights are expected late Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
  • Expiration: The current storm warning is scheduled to expire at 5:00 AM AKST on Thursday, February 12, though elevated sea conditions (up to 20 feet) are forecast to return by Sunday.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
The National Weather Service has issued a storm warning for the Gulf of Alaska, with storm-force winds and seas up to 29 feet expected through Thursday morning.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Gulf of Alaska. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.