Special Marine Warning Issued for Big Island Windward Waters Through Sunday 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This alert is no longer in effect.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).
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 strong thunderstorm capable of producing waterspouts and 34-knot wind gusts has prompted a Special Marine Warning for Big Island Windward Waters until 5:30 PM HST.
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. The alert was issued at 4:27 PM HST following radar detection of a strong thunderstorm in the area.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the Big Island Windward Waters. At 4:26 PM HST, the storm was located 9 nautical miles north of FAD Buoy HK, or approximately 13 nautical miles northeast of Ninole, moving northeast at 10 knots.
What You Should Do
Mariners and residents in the affected area should take the following precautions:
- Seek Safe Harbor: Move to a safe port immediately as waterspouts can easily overturn boats and create hazardous seas.
- Safety Equipment: Ensure all persons on board are wearing life jackets.
- Stay Below Deck: If caught on open water, stay below deck to avoid frequent lightning. Stay low or go below to remain safe from gusty winds and sudden waves.
- Prepare for Conditions: Be ready for steep, fast-building seas and blinding downpours.
Expected Conditions
According to the National Weather Service, the following hazards are present:
- Waterspouts: Possible sudden formation which can overturn small craft.
- Wind: Gusts of 34 knots or greater.
- Hail: Small hail may accompany the storm.
- Lightning: Frequent lightning is occurring.
- Impact: Small craft could be damaged by briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves. The storm is expected to remain mainly over open waters.
Timeline
The Special Marine Warning is effective from 4:27 PM HST and is currently set to expire at 5:30 PM HST on February 22, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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