Special Marine Warning Issued for Lake Pontchartrain and Mississippi Sound Through Late Wednesday Night

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in New Orleans LA has issued a Special Marine Warning for several coastal water bodies. The alert was triggered by radar-indicated severe thunderstorms capable of producing significant wind hazards for maritime activities.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the following marine locations:

• Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas
• Mississippi Sound
• Lake Borgne
• Chandeleur Sound

Specific land-adjacent locations impacted include Cat Island, Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Long Beach, Pass Christian, Rigolets, Lake Borgne, and Gulfport.

What You Should Do

Strong winds pose an immediate danger to boaters and anyone on the water. Officials advise that all individuals on board vessels must wear life jackets. Boaters should seek immediate shelter or move to a safe harbor until the hazardous weather conditions pass. Additionally, a Tornado Watch remains in effect for southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and adjacent coastal waters until 2:00 AM CDT.

Expected Conditions

At 10:43 PM CDT, a cluster of severe thunderstorms was tracked along a line from near Waveland to 9 nautical miles west of Lake Borgne. These storms are moving east at a high speed of 55 knots.

Primary Hazards:

• Wind: Gusts up to 40 knots.
• Waves: Suddenly higher waves are expected.
• Impact: Small craft could be damaged by the brief increase in wind speeds and sea state.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 11:45 PM CDT on March 11, 2026.