Heavy Freezing Spray and Gale Warnings Issued for Western Lake Superior
This alert is no longer in effect.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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The National Weather Service has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for western Lake Superior, warning of rapid ice accumulation and gale-force winds starting early Wednesday.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning
- Affected area
- Lake Superior
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Marquette MI
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.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Marquette, MI, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and a Gale Warning for the open waters of Lake Superior. These alerts indicate a high risk to maritime safety due to freezing temperatures and strong winds.
Affected Areas
The warning is specifically in effect for Lake Superior, west of a line extending from Manitou Island to Marquette, MI, for areas beyond 5 nautical miles from the shore.
What You Should Do
Mariners are urged to prepare for dangerous ice accumulation on their vessels. The NWS recommends that vessels remain in port if possible. Those currently at sea should avoid the warning area, seek safe harbor, alter course, or take immediate mitigation steps to secure the vessel for hazardous conditions.
Expected Conditions
- Freezing Spray: Heavy freezing spray is expected at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater. This can lead to rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures, which may result in a catastrophic loss of vessel stability and render mechanical or electronic components inoperative.
- Wind and Waves: Northwest winds of 20 to 25 knots are expected, with gusts reaching up to 35 knots. These winds will produce hazardous waves between 3 to 6 feet, which could damage or capsize vessels and significantly reduce visibility.
Timeline
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: In effect from 1:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST on Wednesday, February 25.
- Gale Warning: In effect from 1:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST on Wednesday, February 25.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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