Storm Warning Issued for Sitkinak to Castle Cape Waters Through Saturday Morning

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Anchorage has issued a Storm Warning for the coastal waters of Southwest Alaska. The alert is currently in effect and remains active through early Saturday morning.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the maritime region from Sitkinak to Castle Cape, extending out to 15 nautical miles. This includes portions of the Alaska Peninsula waters.

What You Should Do

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

Expected Conditions

Extreme maritime conditions are expected throughout the duration of the warning:

• Winds: Northwest winds are forecast at 55 knots today, with powerful gusts reaching up to 70 knots. Conditions will remain intense tonight with winds at 50 knots and gusts up to 65 knots before midnight.
• Seas: Wave heights are expected to reach 11 feet today, subsiding slightly to 10 feet tonight.
• Additional Hazards: Freezing spray is expected through Saturday morning, which can cause significant ice accumulation on vessels.

Timeline

The Storm Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 5:00 AM AKST on Saturday, February 21. Conditions are expected to begin improving Saturday morning with winds decreasing to 25 knots and seas falling to 5 feet.