Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Port Wing and Apostle Islands Through Wednesday Morning
This alert is no longer in effect.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 Lake Superior waters near Wisconsin, warning of rapid ice accumulation that could threaten vessel stability.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning
- Affected area
- Lake Superior (Wisconsin Coast)
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Duluth MN
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 (Wisconsin Coast).
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Duluth, MN, has issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for portions of Lake Superior. This alert is issued in conjunction with a Small Craft Advisory currently in effect for the region.
Affected Areas
The warning specifically impacts the following maritime geographic regions:
- Port Wing to Sand Island, WI
- Outer Apostle Islands Beyond 5 NM from Mainland
What You Should Do
Mariners are urged to prepare for dangerous accumulation of ice on their vessels. The National Weather Service recommends that mariners remain in port if possible, avoid the warning area entirely, or conduct immediate mitigation efforts. Anyone operating a smaller vessel should avoid navigating in these hazardous conditions, as freezing spray may render mechanical and electronic components inoperative.
Expected Conditions
Heavy freezing spray is expected to accumulate at a rate of 2 centimeters per hour or greater. This rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures may result in a catastrophic loss of vessel stability. In addition to the freezing spray, west winds of 15 to 25 knots are expected, with gusts up to 30 knots. Wave heights are forecast to reach between 2 and 5 feet.
Timeline
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: Effective from 9:00 PM CST Tuesday, February 24, until 8:00 AM CST Wednesday, February 25.
- Small Craft Advisory: Remains in effect until noon CST Wednesday, February 25.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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