Storm Warning Issued for Sitkinak to Castle Cape Coastal Waters Through Friday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Anchorage, AK, has issued a Storm Warning for the coastal waters of Southwest Alaska. This alert is currently in effect and remains active until 5:00 AM AKST on Friday, February 20, 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the offshore area from Sitkinak to Castle Cape, extending from 15 to 100 nautical miles (NM) out. This includes portions of the Alaska Peninsula waters and the Aleutian Islands.

What You Should Do

Mariners and residents in the affected maritime regions are advised to avoid the area. The NWS response instruction for this event is to avoid travel or operations within the warning zone due to hazardous conditions.

Expected Conditions

Conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly starting Thursday night.

• Winds: Northwest winds are forecast to increase from 35 knots to 50 knots after midnight Thursday, with gusts reaching up to 65 knots. By Friday, winds are expected to reach sustained speeds of 55 knots.
• Seas: Wave heights will build from 16 feet on Thursday night to a peak of 21 feet on Friday.
• Friday Night: Conditions will remain hazardous with North winds at 45 knots and seas at 19 feet.

Timeline

The Storm Warning is effective through 5:00 AM AKST on Friday, February 20. The most severe conditions, including peak wind gusts and maximum sea heights, are expected between midnight Thursday and Friday evening.