Health & Safety
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NWS Storm Warning for Kiska to Attu: Gusts Up to 75 Knots, Seas to 27 Feet
A Storm Warning is in effect for coastal waters off the remote Aleutian Islands in Alaska, with the National Weather Service forecasting hurricane-force wind gusts and extremely high seas throughout Monday, October 26.
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THE PRIMARY BRIEF
- 01 · The primary finding
The National Weather Service (NWS) Anchorage issued a Storm Warning for the Kiska to Attu coastal waters on the Bering Sea side, forecasting severe winds up to 60 knots (69 mph) with gusts to 75 knots (86 mph) and seas up to 27 feet, effective October 26, 2026.
- 02 · The primary evidence
The official NWS alert detailed the specific wind and sea conditions and the effective period. This was corroborated by weather aggregation sites displaying very similar NWS warnings, NWS offshore forecasts for the broader Bering Sea region, and NWS Anchorage communications regarding a strong storm impacting Southwest Alaska. A video also reported on a powerful Bering Sea storm affecting Western Alaska with similar wind gusts around this timeframe.
- 03 · Why it matters
The forecasted hurricane-force gusts and dangerously high seas pose significant threats to maritime activities and safety in this remote Aleutian Islands area, requiring immediate attention and precautionary measures.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Anchorage has issued a Storm Warning for the coastal waters from Kiska to Attu on the Bering Sea side, effective Monday, October 26, 2026. The warning forecasts Southwest winds reaching 60 knots, with gusts up to 75 knots, and seas of 27 feet. Rain and isolated thunderstorms are also expected in the affected area.
This specific Storm Warning was issued on October 26 at 3:41 AM Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) and is expected to continue until 5:00 PM AKDT on the same day. An earlier Storm Warning for the Kiska to Attu Bering Side was issued on October 25 by NWS Anchorage, forecasting Southwest winds of 55 knots with gusts up to 70 knots and seas of 26 feet for Monday, October 26.
A broader NWS Offshore Waters Forecast for the Bering Sea, issued on October 25, indicated a Storm Warning for Monday and Monday night for the Bering Sea Offshore West of 180 and East of the International Dateline. That forecast predicted South winds of 45 to 60 knots, with seas building from 13 to 27 feet to 22 to 35 feet on Monday afternoon. Isolated thunderstorms and rain were also expected.
The NWS Anchorage office reported on a strong storm impacting Southwest Alaska on Monday and Tuesday. Coastal Flood Advisories have been issued for the Kuskokwim Bay coast, and elevated water levels are possible for the Bristol Bay coast. Reports also indicate that the powerful Bering Sea storm could bring significant impacts to Western Alaska, with winds gusting up to 75 miles per hour. These conditions, combined with snow, might lead to blizzard conditions along and north of the Seward Peninsula, while areas south of the Seward Peninsula could see snow transitioning to rain.
Looking ahead, the Southwest winds are expected to decrease to 45 knots tonight, diminishing further to 30 knots after midnight, with seas subsiding to 18 feet. By Tuesday, winds are forecast at 25 knots with seas at 15 feet. However, another period of strong South winds up to 50 knots and seas reaching 22 feet is expected on Wednesday. By Thursday and Friday, Northwest winds of 45 knots and 30-foot seas are forecast.
The NWS states that wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected, while sea forecasts represent an average of the highest one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height.
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