Special Marine Warning Issued for Central California Coastal Waters Including San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands
This alert is no longer in effect.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 coastal waters from Point Piedras Blancas to Santa Cruz Island due to potential waterspouts and 50-knot wind gusts.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Central California Coastal Waters
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard
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 Central California Coastal Waters.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard CA has issued a Special Marine Warning (SMWLOX) for coastal waters off Central California. The alert is effective immediately following radar detection of hazardous weather conditions.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following maritime regions:
- Point Piedras Blancas to Point Sal from 10 to 60 NM
- Waters from Pt. Sal to Santa Cruz Island CA and westward 60 NM
- Areas including San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands
What You Should Do
Mariners and residents in the affected areas are advised to avoid the warning zone. The National Weather Service recommends reporting any severe weather observations to the Coast Guard or directly to the NWS. Small craft should seek safe harbor immediately as sudden high waves and winds can cause significant damage.
Expected Conditions
- Hazards: Waterspouts and wind gusts reaching nearly 50 knots.
- Current Observations: At 12:09 AM PST, radar indicated a shower capable of producing waterspouts located 39 nm west of Point Sal (approximately 45 nm southwest of Morro Bay). The system is moving north at 30 knots.
- Impacts: Waterspouts can create locally hazardous seas. Small craft are at risk of damage due to briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves. The shower is expected to remain primarily over open waters.
Timeline
The warning was issued at 12:10 AM PST on February 16, 2026. The alert is scheduled to remain in effect until 1:15 AM PST on February 16, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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