Special Marine Warning Issued for Albemarle Sound and Coastal North Carolina

Source: NOAA · Coastal North Carolina

This alert is no longer in effect.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.

A Special Marine Warning is in effect until 3:00 PM EDT for the Albemarle Sound and surrounding North Carolina coastal waters as a front brings 50-knot wind gusts.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Special Marine Warning
Affected area
Coastal North Carolina
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Newport/Morehead City

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 Coastal North Carolina.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City NC has issued a Special Marine Warning for several coastal and inland waterways in North Carolina. The alert was issued at 2:03 PM EDT following radar detection of a front moving through the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

  • Albemarle Sound
  • Alligator River
  • Croatan and Roanoke Sounds
  • Coastal waters from South of Currituck Beach Light NC to Oregon Inlet NC, extending out to 20 nautical miles.

Specific locations impacted include Edenton, Kill Devil Hills, Duck, the Alligator River Bridge, Highway 94 Bridge, the Mouth of the Perquimans River, and the vicinity of Mashoes, Gum Neck, and Bull Bay.

What You Should Do

Mariners and residents in the affected areas should move to safe harbor immediately. Hazardous weather conditions, including gusty winds and high waves, are expected. It is advised to remain in harbor until the weather passes.

Expected Conditions

A front was located at 2:03 PM EDT along a line extending from 10 nautical miles north of Edenton to 17 nautical miles north of Bath, moving east at 45 knots. Hazards include:

  • Wind Gusts: Speeds reaching nearly 50 knots.
  • Wind Shift: A significant shift from Southwest (SW) to Northwest (NW) behind the front.
  • Waves: Suddenly higher waves capable of damaging small craft.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 3:00 PM EDT 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?
A Special Marine Warning is in effect until 3:00 PM EDT for the Albemarle Sound and surrounding North Carolina coastal waters as a front brings 50-knot wind gusts.
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 Coastal North Carolina. 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.