Special Marine Warning Issued for Kauai and Oahu Waters as Severe Thunderstorms Approach
This alert is no longer in effect.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 Kauai and Oahu coastal waters until 5:45 AM HST due to severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Hawaii Coastal 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 Hawaii Coastal Waters.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Honolulu HI has issued a Special Marine Warning for several marine zones around Kauai and Oahu. The alert was issued at 3:50 AM HST on March 12, 2026, following radar detection of severe weather in the area.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following geographic regions:
- Kauai Channel
- Kauai Leeward Waters
- Kauai Windward Waters
- Oahu Windward Waters
Specific locations impacted include Makahuena Point, FAD Buoy CK, and FAD Buoy Z.
What You Should Do
Mariners and residents in the affected areas should take immediate precautions:
- Prepare for gusty winds, steep and fast-building seas, and blinding downpours.
- Stay low or go below deck to avoid hazards.
- Ensure all individuals on board are wearing life jackets.
- Avoid the warning area if possible until conditions improve.
Expected Conditions
At 3:49 AM HST, radar indicated severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts. These storms were located along a line extending from 32 nautical miles south of FAD Buoy CK to 39 nautical miles southeast of the Southern Tip of Niihau, moving northeast at 35 knots.
Primary Hazards:
- Waterspouts: Capable of easily overturning boats and creating locally hazardous seas.
- Wind: Gusts of 34 knots or greater.
- Sea Conditions: Small craft could be damaged by briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves.
Timeline
The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately and is currently scheduled to expire at 5:45 AM HST on March 12, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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