Special Marine Warning Issued for Gulf of America and Dry Tortugas Through Late Sunday Night
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 4, 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 Gulf of America and Dry Tortugas due to a strong thunderstorm capable of producing waterspouts and high wind gusts.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Gulf of America
- Issued
- April 4, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Key West
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 Gulf of America.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Key West has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Gulf of America. The alert was issued at 10:54 PM EDT on March 15 and remains in effect until 11:30 PM EDT. This warning is classified under the NWS alert type code MAW.
Affected Areas
The warning affects the following geographic regions:
- Gulf of America from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee, 20 to 60 nautical miles out and beyond 5 fathoms.
- Gulf of America including Dry Tortugas and Rebecca Shoal Channel.
Expected Conditions
At 10:54 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 7 nautical miles northeast of New Ground Rocks Light. The storm is reported to be nearly stationary. Expected hazards include:
- Waterspouts: Possible sudden formation which can capsize boats and create hazardous waves.
- Wind: Gusts of 34 knots or greater, with potential gusts in excess of 50 knots.
- Seas: Suddenly higher waves and extremely rough sea conditions.
- Additional Hazards: Frequent lightning and heavy, torrential downpours.
What You Should Do
Mariners and residents in the affected areas should take the following precautions immediately:
- Seek safe harbor immediately as thunderstorms can produce sudden waterspouts.
- Stay low or go below deck to avoid lightning and wind hazards.
- Ensure all individuals on board are wearing life jackets.
- Be prepared for rapidly deteriorating conditions and significantly increased wave heights.
Timeline
The alert is effective as of 10:54 PM EDT on March 15, 2026. The warning and the expected hazardous conditions are currently scheduled to expire at 11:30 PM EDT on March 15, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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