Storm Warning Issued for West of Barren Islands and Kamishak Bay

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Anchorage, AK, has issued a Storm Warning and a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for the coastal waters west of the Barren Islands. This alert is classified as a severe meteorological event requiring immediate attention from marine interests.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic scope of this warning includes the West of Barren Islands and Kamishak Bay. The forecast area covers the Northern Gulf of Alaska Coast up to 100 nautical miles out, including Kodiak Island and Cook Inlet.

What You Should Do

Authorities advise that individuals and vessels should avoid the area during the warning period. The extreme freezing spray poses a significant hazard, as ice can rapidly accumulate on vessels at a rate of 4 cm per hour or greater, potentially affecting stability and safety.

Expected Conditions

Conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly over the next 48 hours:

• Wind Speed: Northwest winds will increase from 40 knots tonight to 45 knots on Thursday, peaking at 60 knots on Thursday night. Winds will remain high at 50 knots through Friday.
• Sea States: Seas will build from 12 feet tonight to 15 feet on Thursday, reaching a peak of 19 feet on Thursday night.
• Freezing Spray: Heavy freezing spray is forecast for Thursday, escalating to extreme freezing spray on Thursday night with accumulation rates exceeding 4 cm per hour.

Timeline

The alert is effective immediately. The most hazardous conditions are expected to begin Thursday night, February 19. The Storm Warning is currently set to expire at 5:00 AM AKST on Friday, February 20, 2026.