Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and Gale Watch Issued for Lake Superior and Michigan Coastal Waters
This alert is no longer in effect.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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NWS Marquette has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and Gale Watch for Lake Superior and Michigan coastal areas, effective Sunday afternoon through early Monday morning.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning
- Affected area
- Lake Superior and Upper Michigan Coast
- 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 and Upper Michigan Coast.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Marquette, MI, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and a Gale Watch for portions of Lake Superior and surrounding coastal waters. The alert indicates a high risk of rapid ice accumulation on vessels due to freezing spray and hazardous maritime conditions.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following geographic regions:
- Point Isabelle to Lower Entrance of Portage Canal, MI
- Portage Lake to Huron Island, MI, including Keweenaw and Huron Bays
- Lake Superior West of a line from Manitou Island to Marquette, MI (beyond 5NM from shore)
What You Should Do
Mariners are advised to take immediate precautions. The NWS recommends that mariners prepare for dangerous ice accumulation on their vessels. If possible, vessels should remain in port or avoid the warning area entirely. Those already at sea should seek safe harbor, alter course, and secure their vessels for severe wind and waves. Freezing spray can render mechanical and electronic components inoperative and lead to a catastrophic loss of stability.
Expected Conditions
- Freezing Spray: Heavy spray is expected at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater.
- Wind: North winds of 20 to 30 knots are forecast, with gusts reaching up to 35 knots.
- Waves: Wave heights are expected to range between 6 and 11 feet.
- Hazards: Rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures, reduced visibility, and hazardous waves that could capsize or damage vessels.
Timeline
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: Effective from 1:00 PM Sunday until 1:00 AM EST Monday.
- Gale Watch: Effective from Sunday afternoon through late Sunday night.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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