Heavy Freezing Spray and Storm Warnings Issued for Lake Superior Near Grand Portage and Taconite Harbor
This alert is no longer in effect.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 and Storm Warning for the Minnesota North Shore, with dangerous ice accumulation and storm-force winds expected.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning
- Affected area
- Lake Superior North Shore, Minnesota
- Issued
- April 6, 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 Lake Superior North Shore, Minnesota.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Duluth, MN, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and a Storm Warning for the coastal waters of Lake Superior. These alerts signify hazardous conditions for maritime operations due to severe wind and rapid ice accumulation.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the Minnesota North Shore of Lake Superior, specifically from Grand Portage to Taconite Harbor, including the following zones:
- Grand Portage to Grand Marais, MN
- Grand Marais to Taconite Harbor, MN
What You Should Do
Mariners are strongly advised to prepare for dangerous ice accumulation on their vessels. The NWS recommends that mariners remain in port, avoid the warning area entirely, or conduct immediate mitigation efforts. Vessels should be secured for severe conditions, and courses should be altered to avoid the most hazardous zones.
Expected Conditions
- Wind: West winds of 20 to 30 knots are expected, with gusts reaching up to 45 knots.
- Waves: Wave heights are forecast between 3 and 6 feet.
- Ice Accumulation: 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, potentially causing a catastrophic loss of vessel stability.
- Additional Hazards: Storm-force winds and hazardous waves may capsize or damage vessels and significantly reduce visibility. Mechanical and electronic components may become inoperative due to ice.
Timeline
- Storm Warning: Effective from noon Friday to midnight CST Friday night.
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: Effective from 6 PM Friday to 4 AM CST Saturday.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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