Special Marine Warning Issued for Lake Michigan Waters from St. Joseph to Holland

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a Special Marine Warning for the nearshore and open waters of Lake Michigan. The alert was issued at 10:43 PM EDT on March 10, 2026, and remains in effect until 11:45 PM EDT.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following geographic regions:

• Nearshore and Open Waters from St. Joseph to Holland, MI
• Lake Michigan from South Haven to Holland, MI (5NM offshore to Mid-lake)
• Lake Michigan from St. Joseph to South Haven, MI (5NM offshore to Mid-lake)
• Specific locations impacted include South Haven Light, St. Joseph Light, and St. Joseph.

What You Should Do

Mariners and residents in the affected areas are advised to avoid the water. Small craft are particularly vulnerable and could be damaged by briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves associated with the passing storm system.

Expected Conditions

At 10:43 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms located along a line extending from 27 nautical miles west of St. Joseph Light to 14 nautical miles north of Burns Harbor to near Indiana Harbor. These storms are moving northeast at 55 knots. Expected hazards include:

• Wind: Gusts up to 40 knots.
• Hail: Small hail is possible.
• Waves: Suddenly higher waves are expected.

Timeline

• Effective: 10:43 PM EDT, March 10, 2026
• Expires: 11:45 PM EDT, March 10, 2026