Special Marine Warning Issued for Pensacola Bay Area and Coastal Waters

Source: NOAA · Pensacola Bay Area and Okaloosa-Walton coastal waters, Florida

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NWS Mobile AL has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Pensacola Bay Area, Western Choctawhatchee Bay, and adjacent coastal waters until 4:45 AM CDT due to thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Special Marine Warning
Affected area
Pensacola Bay Area and Okaloosa-Walton coastal waters, Florida
Issued
August 28, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Mobile AL

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: publication date is recent, but current status is not stored on this page. Check the issuing agency's live warning service before acting because warnings can be updated, narrowed, or cancelled.

Alert Details

A Special Marine Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Mobile AL. The alert is effective from August 28, 2026 at 2:42 AM CDT until August 28, 2026 at 4:45 AM CDT.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the Pensacola Bay Area including Santa Rosa Sound; Western Choctawhatchee Bay; Coastal waters from Okaloosa-Walton County Line to Pensacola FL out 20 NM; and Waters from Okaloosa-Walton County Line to Pensacola FL from 20 to 60 NM. Locations impacted include Mary Esther, Fort Walton Beach, Shalimar, Destin, Okaloosa Pier, Navarre Beach, West Choctawhatchee Bay, East Santa Rosa Sound, Okaloosa Deep Water Reef, and Oriskany Reef.

What You Should Do

Waterspouts can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas. Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves. Residents and mariners should avoid the affected waters.

Expected Conditions

Strong thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts were located along a line extending from near Navarre Beach to 22 nm south of Oriskany Reef, moving east at 15 knots. Hazards include waterspouts and wind gusts 34 knots or greater.

Timeline

The alert is in effect from 2:42 AM CDT to 4:45 AM CDT on August 28, 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?
NWS Mobile AL has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Pensacola Bay Area, Western Choctawhatchee Bay, and adjacent coastal waters until 4:45 AM CDT due to thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts.
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 Pensacola Bay Area and Okaloosa-Walton coastal waters, Florida. 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.