Special Marine Warning Issued for Tampa Bay and West Central Florida Coastal Waters

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Ruskin FL has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Tampa Bay region and adjacent coastal waters. The alert was issued at 5:14 PM EST following radar indications of severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad area of the Florida Gulf Coast, including:

• Tampa Bay waters: Including Old Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Bay, and the Howard Frankland Bridge area.
• Coastal waters: From Englewood to Tarpon Springs FL, and from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL, extending out to 60 nautical miles.
• Specific Locations: Clearwater Beach, Tarpon Springs, Hernando Beach, Anna Maria Island, Terra Ceia Bay, Cockroach Bay, Pass-A-Grille Channel, and various offshore reefs including D5 Reef, Madeira Beach Reef, and Treasure Island Reef.

What You Should Do

Mariners are advised to move to safe harbor immediately until the hazardous weather passes. Thunderstorms can produce sudden waterspouts that can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas. Ensure all persons on board are in a secure location and wearing life jackets.

Expected Conditions

The primary hazards associated with this storm line include:

• Waterspouts: Capable of quickly forming and capsizing vessels.
• Wind: Gusts of 34 knots or greater.
• Sea Conditions: Suddenly higher waves and heavy downpours.
• Lightning: Frequent lightning strikes are expected.

At 5:13 PM EST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 8 nm west of Indian Rocks Beach to 15 nm west of Johns Pass, moving east at 25 knots.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately and is currently set to expire at 6:15 PM EST on February 27, 2026.