Storm Warning Issued for West of Barren Islands and Kamishak Bay Through Thursday Morning

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Anchorage, AK, has issued a Storm Warning for the coastal waters of the Northern Gulf of Alaska. This alert is effective starting at 5:00 PM AKST on February 25 and remains in place until 5:00 AM AKST on February 26. Additionally, a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is in effect through Thursday night.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic scope of this warning includes the waters West of Barren Islands, including Kamishak Bay. The broader 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

The NWS response instruction for this event is to avoid the area. Mariners should be aware that extreme freezing spray can cause ice to accumulate rapidly on vessels at a rate of 4 cm per hour or greater, which can significantly impact vessel stability and safety.

Expected Conditions

• Wind Speed: Northwest winds starting at 55 knots, diminishing to 45 knots after midnight. Winds will remain around 45 knots through Thursday.
• Sea State: Average seas of 16 feet are expected tonight, subsiding to 11 feet on Thursday.
• Freezing Spray: Extreme freezing spray is forecast tonight (4 cm/hr or greater), transitioning to heavy freezing spray through Thursday night.

Timeline

• Storm Warning Onset: February 25 at 5:00 PM AKST
• Storm Warning Expiration: February 26 at 5:00 AM AKST
• Extended Outlook: Winds are expected to diminish further to 25 knots by Friday, with seas subsiding to 5 feet by Friday night.