Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Minnesota North Shore 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This alert is no longer in effect.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 Duluth has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for the Minnesota North Shore, effective Tuesday morning, as rapid ice accumulation threatens vessel stability.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning
- Affected area
- Minnesota North Shore
- 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 Minnesota North Shore.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Duluth, MN, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning and a Small Craft Advisory for the coastal waters of Lake Superior. The warning is classified as a severe meteorological event with a high likelihood of occurrence.
Affected Areas
The alert covers the following regions along the Minnesota North Shore:
- 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 the following actions:
- Remain in port if possible.
- Avoid navigating within the warning area.
- Conduct mitigation efforts if already at sea.
- Operators of smaller vessels should avoid navigating in these hazardous conditions.
Expected Conditions
Heavy freezing spray is expected to accumulate at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater. This rapid ice accretion can render mechanical and electronic components inoperative and may result in a catastrophic loss of vessel stability.
In addition to the freezing spray, a Small Craft Advisory is in effect. Conditions include:
- Winds: West winds between 15 to 25 knots, with gusts reaching up to 30 knots.
- Waves: Significant wave heights between 5 to 8 feet.
Timeline
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: Effective from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM CST on Tuesday, February 24.
- Small Craft Advisory: Effective from midnight tonight through 12:00 PM CST on Wednesday, February 25.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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