Special Marine Warning Issued for Alenuihaha Channel Due to Waterspout Threat
This alert is no longer in effect.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.
The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Alenuihaha Channel until 1:30 PM HST, citing a severe thunderstorm capable of producing waterspouts and 40-knot winds.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Alenuihaha Channel, Hawaii
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Honolulu HI
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 Alenuihaha Channel, Hawaii.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Alenuihaha Channel. This alert was issued at 11:26 AM HST on March 13, 2026, following radar detection of a severe thunderstorm in the region.
Affected Areas
The warning specifically covers the Alenuihaha Channel. Impacted locations include Upolu Point and several offshore markers, specifically FAD Buoy M, FAD Buoy HS, FAD Buoy JJ, FAD Buoy GG, and FAD Buoy Nl.
What You Should Do
Mariners are advised to seek safe harbor immediately. Those on the water should prepare for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas, and blinding downpours. It is recommended to stay low or go below deck, and ensure all passengers are wearing life jackets. Because frequent lightning is occurring, individuals should stay below deck if possible. Waterspouts can develop suddenly and easily overturn boats; immediate action is required to ensure safety.
Expected Conditions
According to radar data, a severe thunderstorm was located 36 nautical miles southwest of FAD Buoy JJ (or 40 nautical miles south of Honokanaia) at 11:25 AM HST, moving northeast at 20 knots. The primary hazards include waterspouts and wind gusts reaching up to 40 knots. These conditions are expected to create locally hazardous seas and could damage small craft.
Timeline
The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to remain in place until 1:30 PM HST on March 13, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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