Special Marine Warning Issued for Southern California Coastal Waters Including Santa Barbara Channel

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard CA has issued a Special Marine Warning (SMWLOX) for several coastal zones in Southern California. This alert was triggered by radar-indicated severe thunderstorms capable of producing dangerous marine conditions.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad area of coastal and outer waters, including:

• East Santa Barbara Channel: From Pt. Conception to Pt. Mugu, including Santa Cruz Island.
• Inner Waters: From Point Mugu to San Mateo Pt., including Santa Catalina and Anacapa Islands.
• Outer Waters: From Santa Cruz Island to San Clemente Island to 60 NM offshore, including San Nicolas and Santa Barbara Islands.
• Specific Locations: Impacted areas include Santa Barbara Island, San Nicolas Island, Anacapa Island, and Point Dume.

What You Should Do

Mariners and residents in the affected areas are advised to move to safe harbor immediately. You should remain in a secure location until the hazardous weather passes. Small craft are particularly vulnerable and could be damaged by sudden high winds and waves.

Expected Conditions

At 9:11 PM PST, radar detected a line of severe thunderstorms extending from 7 nm west of Point Mugu to 7 nm west of San Nicolas Island. These storms are moving northeast at 30 knots.

Primary Hazards:

• Waterspouts: These can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas.
• Wind: Gusts are expected to reach nearly 50 knots.
• Waves: Suddenly higher waves are expected in the vicinity of the storms.

Timeline

The warning is effective immediately as of 9:12 PM PST, February 17, 2026. The alert is scheduled to expire at 10:00 PM PST on the same evening.