Storm Warning and Heavy Freezing Spray Warning Issued for Lake Superior and Upper Michigan Coast
This alert is no longer in effect.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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NWS Marquette has issued a Storm Warning and Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for Lake Superior, forecasting 50-knot gusts and dangerous ice accumulation through Saturday morning.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Storm Warning
- Affected area
- Lake Superior and Upper Michigan Coast
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Marquette
Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Lake Superior and Upper Michigan Coast.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Marquette, MI, has issued a Storm Warning and a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for portions of Lake Superior and the Upper Michigan coastline. These alerts indicate severe maritime conditions that pose a significant threat to vessel safety.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following geographic regions:
- Upper Entrance of Portage Canal to Eagle River, MI
- Eagle River to Manitou Island, MI
- Lake Superior from the Upper Entrance of Portage Canal to Manitou Island, MI, extending 5 nautical miles offshore to the US/Canadian Border.
Expected Conditions
- Wind: West winds between 30 to 40 knots are expected, with gusts reaching up to 50 knots.
- Waves: Significant wave heights of 11 to 16 feet are anticipated.
- Freezing Spray: Heavy freezing spray is expected to accumulate at a rate of 2 cm per hour or greater.
- Impacts: Operating a vessel in these conditions is extremely hazardous. Heavy freezing spray can cause rapid ice accretion on decks and superstructures, potentially leading to a catastrophic loss of stability. Additionally, storm-force winds and high waves may capsize or damage vessels and significantly reduce visibility.
Timeline
- Storm Warning: Effective from 1:00 PM EST Friday, February 27, until 7:00 AM EST Saturday, February 28.
- Heavy Freezing Spray Warning: Effective from 7:00 PM EST Friday, February 27, until 1:00 PM EST Saturday, February 28.
What You Should Do
Mariners are strongly advised to remain in port or alter course to avoid the warning area. Those currently at sea should secure their vessels for severe conditions and prepare for dangerous ice accumulation. If possible, conduct mitigation efforts to prevent mechanical and electronic components from becoming inoperative due to ice.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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