Heavy Freezing Spray and Gale Warnings Issued for Western Lake Superior Near Duluth and Silver Bay
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on March 31, 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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The National Weather Service has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and Gale Warning for western Lake Superior, effective from Sunday morning through Monday noon.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning
- Affected area
- Western Lake Superior
- Issued
- March 31, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Duluth
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 Western Lake Superior.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Duluth, MN, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and a Gale Warning for portions of western Lake Superior. These alerts signify hazardous conditions for maritime operations due to extreme cold and high winds.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following maritime zones:
- Silver Bay Harbor to Two Harbors, MN
- Two Harbors to Duluth, MN
- Duluth, MN to Port Wing, WI
- Port Wing to Sand Island, WI
What You Should Do
Mariners are strongly advised to prepare for dangerous ice accumulation on their vessels. If possible, remain in port or avoid the warning area entirely. Those already at sea should seek safe harbor, alter course to avoid hazardous conditions, and secure the vessel for extreme weather. Mitigation efforts should be conducted to manage ice build-up.
Expected Conditions
- Freezing Spray: Heavy freezing spray is expected at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater, which may rapidly accumulate on vessels.
- Wind: North winds of 25 to 35 knots are forecast, with gusts reaching up to 40 knots.
- Waves: Significant wave heights between 7 to 12 feet are expected.
- Impacts: Operating a vessel in these conditions is hazardous. Rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures can lead to a catastrophic loss of stability. Additionally, freezing spray may render mechanical and electronic components inoperative, while strong winds and waves could capsize vessels and reduce visibility.
Timeline
- Gale Warning: Effective from 4:00 AM Sunday to 12:00 PM CDT Monday.
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: Effective from 7:00 AM Sunday to 12:00 PM CDT Monday.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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