Special Marine Warning Issued for Offshore Waters from High Island to Freeport, TX

Source: NOAA · Offshore Texas Coast

This alert is no longer in effect.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).

Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for offshore Texas waters until 9:30 PM CST due to severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts and 50-knot wind gusts.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Special Marine Warning
Affected area
Offshore Texas Coast
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Houston Galveston

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 Offshore Texas Coast.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Houston/Galveston TX has issued a Special Marine Warning for offshore waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The alert was issued at 8:36 PM CST on February 14, 2026, following radar detection of severe weather moving through the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the waters from High Island to Freeport, TX, extending from 20 to 60 nautical miles offshore. Specific locations impacted by this line of storms include:

  • Tabs Buoy F
  • Galveston A8
  • Heald Bank
  • High Island blocks A131, A142, A23, A410, A61, A80, and A109

What You Should Do

Mariners are advised to move to safe harbor immediately. Gusty winds and high waves are expected to create dangerous conditions. Because thunderstorms can produce sudden waterspouts that can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas, all small craft should seek shelter and avoid the warning area until conditions improve.

Expected Conditions

At 8:36 PM CST, a line of severe thunderstorms was located extending from near High Island 199 to near Galveston A8, moving southeast at 30 knots. The primary hazards associated with these storms are waterspouts and wind gusts reaching nearly 50 knots. These conditions are capable of damaging small craft and generating suddenly higher waves.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately as of 8:36 PM CST and is currently scheduled to expire at 9:30 PM CST on February 14, 2026.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for offshore Texas waters until 9:30 PM CST due to severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts and 50-knot wind gusts.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Offshore Texas Coast. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.