Special Marine Warning Issued for Lake Pontchartrain, Mississippi Sound, and Surrounding Coastal Waters

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in New Orleans LA has issued a Special Marine Warning (Alert Level: Severe) for several coastal water bodies. The alert was issued at 1:47 AM CST following radar detection of severe thunderstorms moving through the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following marine areas:

• Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas
• Mississippi Sound
• Lake Borgne
• Chandeleur Sound
• Breton Sound

Impacted land-based locations and landmarks include Yscloskey, Biloxi, Waveland, Pass Christian, Ship Island, Lake Borgne, Chandeleur Sound, Eden Isle, Cat Island, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi Sound, Long Beach, Rigolets, Gulf Park Estates, Ocean Springs, and Gulfport.

What You Should Do

Boaters and individuals near the water should take immediate precautions:

• Seek shelter or move to a safe harbor immediately until the hazardous weather passes.
• Ensure all persons on board are wearing life jackets.
• Avoid the warning area as strong winds and sudden waves pose a significant danger to small craft.

Expected Conditions

At 1:46 AM CST, a cluster of severe thunderstorms was located along a line extending from 17 nautical miles northwest of Waveland to 7 nautical miles southeast of Orleans Marina. The system is moving northeast at 55 knots.

Primary hazards include:

• Waterspouts: These can form quickly and capsize boats or damage vessels and oil rigs.
• Wind: Gusts up to 40 knots.
• Hail: Small hail is possible.
• Waves: Suddenly higher waves are expected in the vicinity of the storms.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is effective from 1:47 AM CST until 3:15 AM CST on February 15. Additionally, a Tornado Watch remains in effect for southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and adjacent coastal waters until 5:00 AM CST.