Special Marine Warning Issued for Offshore Waters from Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Melbourne FL has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Atlantic coastal waters. This alert was triggered by radar indicating a strong thunderstorm capable of producing hazardous conditions for mariners.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the offshore waters from Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet, extending from 20 to 60 nautical miles offshore. At 8:00 AM EST, the storm was tracked approximately 49 nautical miles east of Nettles Island, moving northeast at 10 knots.

What You Should Do

Boaters should seek safe harbor immediately until the storm passes. The National Weather Service advises that all persons on board should wear life jackets. If caught on open water, stay below deck and avoid ungrounded metal objects, as frequent cloud-to-water lightning is occurring. Remember that lightning can strike more than 10 miles away from the core of a thunderstorm.

Expected Conditions

• Wind: Gusts of 34 knots or greater.
• Hail: Small hail is possible.
• Water Conditions: Suddenly higher waves and heavy downpours.
• Lightning: Frequent cloud-to-water lightning.

Timeline

The warning is effective as of 8:01 AM EST on March 1, 2026, and is currently set to expire at 8:30 AM EST. The storm is expected to remain mainly over open waters during this period.