Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Lake Superior Near Minnesota and Wisconsin
This alert is no longer in effect.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 for Lake Superior coastal waters through Monday afternoon, citing dangerous ice accumulation and high waves.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning
- Affected area
- Lake Superior (Minnesota and Wisconsin)
- 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 (Minnesota and Wisconsin).
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Duluth, MN, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and a Gale Warning for specific maritime zones in Lake Superior. The alert is classified as a severe threat with a high likelihood of occurrence.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following geographic regions:
- Minnesota: Taconite Harbor to Silver Bay Harbor
- Wisconsin: Sand Island to Bayfield, and Oak Point to Saxon Harbor
- Offshore: Outer Apostle Islands beyond 5 nautical miles from the mainland
What You Should Do
Mariners are strongly advised to prepare for dangerous ice accumulation on their vessels. If possible, remain in port or avoid the warning area entirely. Those already at sea should seek safe harbor, alter course, and secure their vessels for hazardous conditions to prevent catastrophic loss of stability.
Expected Conditions
- Ice Accumulation: Heavy freezing spray is expected to accumulate at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater.
- Wind Speed: North winds of 20 to 30 knots are forecast, with gusts reaching up to 35 knots.
- Wave Heights: Significant waves between 10 and 15 feet are expected.
- Impacts: Operating a vessel in these conditions is hazardous. Rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures can lead to a loss of stability. Additionally, freezing spray may cause mechanical and electronic components to become inoperative, while strong winds and high waves may reduce visibility or capsize vessels.
Timeline
The Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and Gale Warning are effective immediately and are scheduled to remain in effect until 4:00 PM CDT this afternoon, March 16.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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