Storm Warning Issued for Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters Near Cape Fairweather

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Juneau, AK, has issued a Storm Warning for the coastal waters of Southeast Alaska. The alert is currently in effect and remains active through 5:00 AM AKST on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

Affected Areas

The primary area affected includes the coastal waters from Cape Fairweather to Icy Cape out to 15 nautical miles. The broader warning covers Southeast Alaska Coastal Waters from Dixon Entrance to Cape Suckling out to 100 nautical miles.

What You Should Do

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

Expected Conditions

Significant marine hazards are expected throughout the duration of the warning:

• Wind: Northeast winds of 40 knots are expected to increase to 50 knots this afternoon and remain at 50 knots tonight. Gale-force winds between 40 and 45 knots will persist through Sunday.
• Seas: Average wave heights are forecast at 13 feet today and tonight, gradually subsiding to 11 feet on Saturday and 9 feet on Sunday.
• Freezing Spray: Light freezing spray is expected this afternoon, becoming more prevalent tonight and continuing through Saturday night.

Timeline

The Storm Warning is effective as of 3:20 AM AKST on Friday, February 20. The most severe conditions are expected through tonight, with the warning officially set to end at 5:00 AM AKST on Saturday, February 21. Conditions are expected to transition to gale-force winds through the remainder of the weekend.