Heavy Freezing Spray and Storm Warnings Issued for Western Lake Superior
This alert is no longer in effect.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 Storm Warning for western Lake Superior, forecasting dangerous ice accumulation and waves up to 23 feet.
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 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 Western Lake Superior.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Marquette, MI, has issued a series of marine alerts, including a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning, a Storm Warning, and a Gale Warning. These alerts cover significant portions of western Lake Superior and adjacent coastal waters due to expected severe winter marine conditions.
Affected Areas
The warning area encompasses the following regions:
- Saxon Harbor, WI to Black River, MI
- Black River to Ontonagon, MI
- Ontonagon to the Upper Entrance of the Portage Canal, MI
- Lake Superior from Saxon Harbor to the Upper Entrance of the Portage Canal, extending 5 nautical miles offshore to the US/Canadian border, including Isle Royale National Park.
What You Should Do
Mariners are strongly advised to remain in port or avoid the warning area entirely. For those already at sea, immediate action should be taken to alter course or secure vessels for severe conditions. Residents and operators should prepare for dangerous ice accumulation on decks and superstructures, which can lead to a catastrophic loss of stability. Freezing spray may also render mechanical and electronic components inoperative.
Expected Conditions
- Freezing Spray: Heavy freezing spray is expected at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater.
- Winds: North winds between 35 to 45 knots are expected, with gusts reaching up to 55 knots during the Storm Warning period.
- Waves: Significant wave heights between 18 and 23 feet are anticipated. Earlier Gale Warning conditions include waves of 13 to 18 feet.
- Hazards: Storm force winds and hazardous waves may capsize or damage vessels and will significantly reduce visibility.
Timeline
- Gale Warning: Effective from 8:00 AM EDT Sunday to 8:00 PM EDT Sunday.
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: Effective from 2:00 PM EDT Sunday through 2:00 PM EDT Tuesday.
- Storm Warning: Effective from 8:00 PM EDT Sunday to 2:00 PM EDT Monday.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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