Heavy Freezing Spray and Gale Warnings Issued for Lake Superior Near Upper Michigan
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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NWS Marquette has issued warnings for heavy freezing spray and gale-force winds on Lake Superior, effective Tuesday morning, posing significant risks to maritime stability and safety.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning
- Affected area
- Lake Superior / Upper Michigan
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Marquette
The warning type, named area, and issue time define this record. Confirm all three against the original agency notice before treating it as current.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Lake Superior / Upper Michigan.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Marquette, MI, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and a Gale Warning for portions of Lake Superior. These alerts indicate hazardous maritime conditions that could impact vessel stability and navigation.
Affected Areas
The warnings cover the following geographic regions:
- Upper Entrance of Portage Canal to Eagle River, MI
- Eagle River to Manitou Island, MI
- Lake Superior from the Upper Entrance to Portage Canal to Manitou Island, MI (5NM offshore to the US/Canadian Border)
What You Should Do
Mariners are strongly advised to prepare for dangerous ice accumulation on their vessels. If possible, remain in port or seek safe harbor. Those already at sea should avoid the warning area, alter course, and secure the vessel for hazardous conditions. Operating a vessel in heavy freezing spray is considered hazardous as it may render mechanical and electronic components inoperative.
Expected Conditions
- Freezing Spray: Heavy accumulation at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater is expected. Rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures may result in a catastrophic loss of stability.
- Winds: South winds between 20 to 30 knots are forecast, with gusts reaching up to 35 knots.
- Waves: Significant wave heights of 7 to 10 feet are anticipated, which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.
Timeline
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: In effect from 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST, Tuesday, February 24.
- Gale Warning: In effect from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST, Tuesday, February 24.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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