Special Marine Warning Issued for Kauai and Oahu Waters Through Early Sunday Morning
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 1, 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 waters until 3:15 AM HST due to a strong thunderstorm producing wind gusts of 34 knots or greater.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Kauai and Oahu Waters
- Issued
- April 1, 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 Kauai and Oahu Waters.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Special Marine Warning for several marine zones surrounding Kauai and Oahu. The alert was issued at 1:10 AM HST on March 15, 2026, following radar detection of a strong thunderstorm moving through the region.
Affected Areas
The warning encompasses the following geographic marine regions:
- Kauai Channel
- Kauai Leeward Waters
- Kauai Northwest Waters
- Kauai Windward Waters
- Oahu Windward Waters
Specific locations expected to be impacted include Nawiliwili Harbor, Kilauea Lighthouse, the southern tip of Niihau, Kikiaola Harbor, Kukuiula Harbor, and FAD Buoys CK, DK, and EK.
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 until conditions improve.
Expected Conditions
At 1:10 AM HST, a strong thunderstorm was located approximately 17 nautical miles southwest of Kekaha, moving northeast at 40 knots. The primary hazard identified is wind gusts of 34 knots or greater. These conditions are expected to create suddenly higher waves and could potentially damage small craft.
Timeline
The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately as of 1:10 AM HST and is scheduled to remain in effect until 3:15 AM HST on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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