Heavy Freezing Spray and Storm Warnings Issued for Lake Michigan Coast from Grand Haven to Manistee
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 5, 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 a Storm Warning for Lake Michigan coastal waters, citing dangerous ice accumulation and storm-force winds.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning
- Affected area
- Lake Michigan (Grand Haven to Manistee)
- Issued
- April 5, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Grand Rapids
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 Michigan (Grand Haven to Manistee).
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, MI, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and a Storm Warning for the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. These alerts indicate a severe threat to maritime safety with likely certainty, issued by the NWS Grand Rapids office.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the coastal waters of Lake Michigan from Grand Haven to Manistee, specifically including the following zones:
- Grand Haven to Whitehall, MI
- Whitehall to Pentwater, MI
- Pentwater to Manistee, MI
What You Should Do
Mariners are strongly advised to remain in port or seek safe harbor immediately. If currently at sea, mariners should alter course and secure the vessel for severe conditions. Prepare for dangerous ice accumulation on decks and superstructures. Operating a vessel in these conditions is hazardous, as freezing spray may render mechanical and electronic components inoperative and lead to a catastrophic loss of stability.
Expected Conditions
- Winds: Northwest winds between 35 to 45 knots, with gusts reaching up to 50 knots.
- Waves: Significant wave heights of 13 to 18 feet are expected.
- Ice Accumulation: Heavy freezing spray is expected at a rate of up to one inch per hour, which may rapidly accumulate on vessels.
- Visibility: Storm-force winds and hazardous waves will reduce visibility and create conditions capable of capsizing or damaging vessels.
Timeline
- Storm Warning: Effective until 8:00 PM EDT Monday, March 16.
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: Effective from 8:00 AM EDT Monday, March 16, until 12:00 PM EDT Tuesday, March 17.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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