Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Alaska Peninsula Waters (Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef)

Alert Details

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Anchorage, AK, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for the coastal waters of Southwest Alaska. The alert was issued on March 10, 2026, and remains in effect until Wednesday afternoon.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the maritime region from Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef, specifically from 15 to 70 nautical miles (NM) out. This includes portions of the Alaska Peninsula waters.

What You Should Do

The NWS advises a response of “Avoid” for the affected areas. Mariners are urged to exercise extreme caution as heavy freezing spray can cause rapid ice accumulation on vessels, which can significantly impact vessel stability and safety.

Expected Conditions

• Tonight: North winds at 35 knots with seas reaching 11 feet. Snow showers and heavy freezing spray are expected.
• Wednesday: North winds at 25 knots with seas at 10 feet. Heavy freezing spray will continue throughout the day.
• Wednesday Night: Conditions are expected to shift to northwest winds at 15-25 knots with seas subsiding to 6 feet, though freezing spray may persist.

Timeline

The Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 5:00 PM AKDT on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Conditions are expected to improve slightly by Thursday with winds remaining around 25 knots.