Special Marine Warning for Kauai and Oahu Waters: Waterspouts and 40-Knot Gusts Possible

Source: NOAA · Kauai and Oahu 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This alert is no longer in effect.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).

Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

NWS Honolulu has issued a Special Marine Warning for Kauai and Oahu waters until 6:45 AM HST, citing severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts and high winds.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Special Marine Warning
Affected area
Kauai and Oahu Waters
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Honolulu

Marine notices apply to named waters or shoreline zones. They may not describe conditions on land, even when the nearest place name is the same.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Kauai and Oahu Waters.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Honolulu HI has issued a Special Marine Warning for several Hawaiian water zones. The alert was issued at 4:42 AM HST following radar detection of severe thunderstorms capable of producing hazardous conditions.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following maritime regions:

  • Kauai Channel
  • Kauai Leeward Waters
  • Kauai Windward Waters
  • Oahu Leeward Waters
  • Oahu Windward Waters

Specific locations impacted include Kahuku Point, Kilauea Lighthouse, Kikiaola Harbor, Haleiwa Harbor, and FAD Buoys CK, DK, J, and CO.

What You Should Do

Mariners and residents in the affected areas should prepare for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas, and blinding downpours. The National Weather Service recommends that those on the water stay low or go below deck. It is essential that all individuals on board wear life jackets to ensure safety during these conditions.

Expected Conditions

The primary hazards include waterspouts and wind gusts reaching up to 40 knots. According to radar data, waterspouts can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas, while high winds and sudden waves may damage small craft. At 4:41 AM HST, severe thunderstorms were located approximately 30 nm southeast of Poipu (or 23 nm southeast of FAD Buoy CK), moving northeast at 20 knots.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately as of 4:42 AM HST and is scheduled to remain in effect until 6:45 AM HST on March 12, 2026.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
NWS Honolulu has issued a Special Marine Warning for Kauai and Oahu waters until 6:45 AM HST, citing severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts and high winds.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Kauai and Oahu Waters. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.