Special Marine Warning Issued for Big Island Windward Waters Through Friday Afternoon
This alert is no longer in effect.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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The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Big Island Windward Waters as severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts move through the region.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Big Island Windward 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 Big Island Windward Waters.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Big Island Windward Waters. This alert was issued at 12:08 PM HST following radar detection of severe weather in the area.
Affected Areas
The warning specifically impacts the Big Island Windward Waters. Impacted locations include Hilo Harbor, Cape Kumukahi, and several FAD Buoys, specifically HK, E, D, G, SS, and KH.
What You Should Do
Mariners are advised to seek safe harbor immediately. Prepare for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas, and blinding downpours. All persons on board should wear life jackets and stay low or go below deck. Because thunderstorms can produce sudden waterspouts that can easily overturn boats, immediate action is required to protect life and property.
Expected Conditions
According to radar, severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts and wind gusts of 34 knots or greater were identified. These conditions can create locally hazardous seas and suddenly higher waves capable of damaging small craft. Blinding downpours are also expected as the storm system moves through the maritime region.
Timeline
The Special Marine Warning is effective from 12:08 PM HST on March 13, 2026, and is currently scheduled to expire at 2:15 PM HST. At 12:07 PM HST, the storms were located along a line extending from 22 nm northeast of FAD Buoy D to 12 nm east of FAD Buoy SS, moving northeast at 20 knots.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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