Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Sitkinak to Castle Cape Through Sunday

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Anchorage has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for the coastal waters of Southwest Alaska. The alert was issued early Saturday morning and remains in effect through Sunday evening. A Gale Warning is also currently in effect for the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the maritime region from Sitkinak to Castle Cape, extending out to 15 nautical miles. This includes portions of the Alaska Peninsula waters.

What You Should Do

The NWS recommends that mariners avoid the affected area. Heavy freezing spray can lead to rapid ice accumulation on vessel superstructures, which can compromise stability and create life-threatening conditions for those at sea.

Expected Conditions

Hazardous maritime conditions are expected throughout the weekend:

• Today: West winds at 35 knots with seas reaching 9 feet. Heavy freezing spray is expected.
• Tonight: Northwest winds increasing to 40 knots with seas up to 10 feet. Snow showers and heavy freezing spray are forecast.
• Sunday: Northwest winds at 40 knots with 9-foot seas and continued heavy freezing spray.
• Extended Outlook: Northwest winds are forecast to reach 45 knots on Monday, with seas remaining between 8 and 9 feet through Wednesday.

Timeline

The Heavy Freezing Spray Warning is effective from 3:17 AM AKST on Saturday, March 7, until 6:00 PM AKDT on Sunday, March 8. Conditions are expected to remain hazardous with high winds and significant seas through the middle of the upcoming week.