Special Marine Warning Issued for Georgia and Florida Coastal Waters Through 9:15 PM

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Jacksonville has issued a Special Marine Warning for coastal and offshore waters. The alert was triggered by radar-indicated strong thunderstorms moving through the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following maritime regions:

• Coastal waters from Altamaha Sound to Fernandina Beach, FL, extending out 20 nautical miles.
• Waters from Altamaha Sound, GA, to Fernandina Beach, FL, from 20 to 60 nautical miles offshore.

Specific locations impacted include Buoy Hlha and Buoy Cdh.

What You Should Do

Mariners are advised to move to safe harbor immediately until the hazardous weather passes. If your vessel is caught offshore, immediately secure for heavy weather. Ensure all crew members are wearing USCG-approved Type I life jackets and nonessential crew are below decks. Deploy jack lines and harnesses if available. Check life-saving equipment, including batteries on handheld radios, for readiness.

Expected Conditions

At 8:18 PM EDT, an area of strong thunderstorms was located 20 nautical miles southeast of Jekyll Island, or 24 nautical miles southeast of St. Simons Island, moving northeast at 20 knots. The primary hazard includes wind gusts of 34 knots or greater. Small craft could be damaged in briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 9:15 PM EDT on March 15, 2026.