Special Marine Warning Issued for Gulf Waters from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 5, 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 Gulf waters until 1:00 AM EDT Monday, citing threats of waterspouts and wind gusts exceeding 34 knots.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Gulf of America
- Issued
- April 5, 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 FL has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Gulf of America. This alert is in response to a strong thunderstorm capable of producing hazardous marine conditions.
Affected Areas
The warning covers Gulf Waters from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee, extending 20 to 60 nautical miles out and beyond 5 fathoms.
What You Should Do
Mariners are advised to seek safe harbor immediately. Boaters should prepare for wind gusts in excess of 34 knots, steep and fast-building seas, frequent lightning, and blinding downpours. It is recommended to stay low or go below deck and ensure all individuals on board are wearing life jackets. Thunderstorms can produce sudden waterspouts which can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas.
Expected Conditions
A strong thunderstorm with possible waterspouts was located approximately 7 nautical miles west of Smith Shoal Light at 11:54 PM EDT. The storm is reported to be nearly stationary. Hazards include:
- Waterspouts
- Wind gusts of 34 knots or greater
- Frequent lightning
- Heavy downpours
- Suddenly higher waves
Timeline
The alert was issued at 11:54 PM EDT on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 1:00 AM EDT on Monday, March 16, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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