Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and Gale Watch Issued for Central 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This alert is no longer in effect.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).
Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
The National Weather Service has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for portions of Lake Superior, with ice accumulation rates of 2 cm per hour and waves up to 12 feet expected.
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
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) in Marquette, MI, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and a Gale Watch for the open waters of Lake Superior. The alert indicates a high probability of rapid ice accumulation on vessels, which poses a significant risk to maritime safety.
Affected Areas
The warning and watch apply to Lake Superior, specifically the area east of a line from Manitou Island to Marquette, MI, and west of a line from Grand Marais, MI, to the US/Canadian Border. This alert covers areas beyond 5 nautical miles from the shore.
What You Should Do
Mariners are strongly advised to prepare for dangerous ice accumulation. If possible, vessels should remain in port or seek safe harbor. Those currently in the warning area should consider altering course or conducting mitigation efforts to manage ice. Vessels should be secured for severe wind and waves to prevent damage or capsizing.
Expected Conditions
- Ice Accumulation: Heavy freezing spray is expected at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater.
- Wind: North winds between 25 to 30 knots, with gusts reaching up to 35 knots.
- Waves: Wave heights of 7 to 12 feet are possible.
- Hazards: Rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures may lead to a catastrophic loss of vessel stability. Freezing spray can also render mechanical and electronic components inoperative and reduce visibility.
Timeline
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: Effective from 1:00 PM Sunday, February 22, until 1:00 AM EST Monday, February 23.
- Gale Watch: Effective from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
Related Weather Alerts
All Weather Alerts →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this NWS weather alert.