Storm Warning Issued for Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters: 55-Knot Winds and 38-Foot Seas Forecast

Source: NOAA · Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters

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NWS Juneau has issued a Storm Warning for Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe, effective Thursday, Feb. 12, with dangerous 38-foot seas and 55-knot winds expected.

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 Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters. 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, Storm Warning, Southeast Alaska) 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, AK, has issued a Storm Warning for Southeast Alaska coastal waters. The alert is effective from 5:00 AM AKST on Thursday, February 12, through 5:00 PM AKST on Thursday evening.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the region from Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe, extending from 15 to 80 nautical miles (NM) offshore. The broader forecast area includes Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters from Dixon Entrance to Cape Suckling out to 100 NM.

What You Should Do

The NWS advises individuals to avoid the affected coastal waters during the warning period. Mariners should take necessary precautions to protect life and property, seeking safe harbor or remaining in port until conditions improve.

Expected Conditions

  • Winds: Southwest storm force winds are expected to reach up to 55 knots on Thursday morning. These are forecast to diminish to gale force winds of 45 knots by the afternoon.
  • Seas: Significant wave heights are expected to reach an average of 38 feet on Thursday.
  • Precipitation: Rain is forecast throughout the day on Thursday.
  • Preceding Conditions: Tonight, south gale winds of 35 knots with gusts up to 55 knots are expected, with seas building from 16 feet to 26 feet.

Timeline

  • Onset: Thursday, February 12 at 5:00 AM AKST.
  • Duration: The storm warning is currently set to expire at 5:00 PM AKST on Thursday, February 12.
  • Outlook: Conditions are expected to remain hazardous into Thursday night with southwest gales of 35 knots and 27-foot seas. Winds and seas are expected to gradually subside through Friday and Saturday.

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?
NWS Juneau has issued a Storm Warning for Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe, effective Thursday, Feb. 12, with dangerous 38-foot seas and 55-knot winds expected.
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 Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters. 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.