Special Marine Warning Issued for Offshore Waters from Altamaha Sound to Fernandina Beach
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 4, 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).
Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
A Special Marine Warning is in effect until 9:45 PM EDT for offshore waters between Georgia and Florida as a strong thunderstorm moves through the area with high winds and hail.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Georgia and Florida Offshore Waters
- Issued
- April 4, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Jacksonville
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 Georgia and Florida Offshore Waters.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville FL has issued a Special Marine Warning for offshore waters. This alert was triggered by radar-indicated hazards associated with a strong thunderstorm moving through the region.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the waters from Altamaha Sound, Georgia, to Fernandina Beach, Florida, extending from 20 to 60 nautical miles (NM) offshore.
What You Should Do
Mariners are advised to move to safe harbor immediately until the hazardous weather passes. If your vessel is caught offshore, secure it for heavy weather and ensure all crew members are wearing USCG-approved Type I life jackets. Nonessential crew should remain below decks. Mariners should also deploy jack lines and harnesses if available and check the readiness of life-saving equipment, including batteries on handheld radios.
Expected Conditions
At 8:39 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located 30 nm east of Amelia City, or 37 nm southeast of St. Simons Island, moving northeast at 25 knots. Expected hazards include:
- Wind: Gusts of 34 knots or greater.
- Hail: Small hail is possible.
- Impact: Small craft could be damaged by briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves. The storm is expected to remain over mainly open waters.
Timeline
The alert is effective immediately as of 8:40 PM EDT and is scheduled to expire at 9:45 PM EDT on March 15, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
Related Weather Alerts
All Weather Alerts →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this NWS weather alert.