Special Marine Warning Issued for Lake Okeechobee Through 5:00 PM EST

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Miami has issued a Special Marine Warning for Lake Okeechobee. The alert was issued at 4:28 PM EST following radar detection of a severe thunderstorm in the region.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic area under this warning is Lake Okeechobee. At the time of the alert, the storm was located near Buckhead Ridge.

What You Should Do

Boaters and residents in the affected area should move to safe harbor immediately until the hazardous weather passes. Thunderstorms can produce sudden waterspouts that can easily overturn boats and create dangerous local sea conditions. Severe weather should be reported to the Coast Guard or the National Weather Service. Reports can also be shared with NWS Miami on Facebook and Twitter.

Expected Conditions

According to radar tracking, the storm is capable of producing the following hazards:

• Waterspouts
• Wind gusts of 34 knots or greater
• Small hail

The storm was last located near Buckhead Ridge, moving southeast at approximately 30 knots. Waterspouts can create locally hazardous seas and damage small craft with little warning.

Timeline

The warning is effective immediately as of 4:28 PM EST on February 28, 2026, and is scheduled to remain in effect until 5:00 PM EST.