Special Marine Warning Issued for Santa Barbara Channel and Southern California Offshore Waters
This alert is no longer in effect.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).
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The National Weather Service has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Santa Barbara Channel and surrounding offshore waters until 4:30 AM PST due to potential waterspouts and 50-knot wind gusts.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Special Marine Warning
- Affected area
- Southern California Coastal Waters
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard
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 Southern California Coastal Waters.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Santa Barbara Channel and surrounding offshore waters. The alert was issued at 3:07 AM PST on February 16, 2026, and remains in effect until 4:30 AM PST.
Affected Areas
The warning covers several key maritime zones, including:
- East Santa Barbara Channel: From Point Conception to Point Mugu, including Santa Cruz Island.
- Outer Waters: From Santa Cruz Island to San Clemente Island extending 60 nautical miles offshore, including San Nicolas and Santa Barbara Islands.
- Northern Offshore Waters: From Point Sal to Santa Cruz Island and westward 60 nautical miles, including San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands.
Specific locations impacted by these conditions include Point Arguello, San Miguel Island, and Point Conception.
What You Should Do
Mariners and individuals in the affected areas are advised to avoid the warning zone. Small craft should seek safe harbor immediately as high winds and waves can cause damage. Please report any sightings of severe weather or waterspouts to the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Weather Service.
Expected Conditions
According to radar data, showers capable of producing waterspouts were identified approximately 45 nautical miles south of Point Conception to about 25 nautical miles west of Point Conception. These storms are moving north at a speed of 25 to 30 knots.
Primary hazards include:
- Waterspouts: These can create locally hazardous seas and pose a significant threat to mariners.
- Wind: Gusts are expected to reach nearly 50 knots.
- Waves: Suddenly higher waves are possible, which can damage small craft and create dangerous conditions.
Timeline
The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately as of 3:07 AM PST. The warning and the associated hazardous conditions are expected to last until the alert expires at 4:30 AM PST on February 16, 2026.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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