Special Marine Warning Issued for Mobile Bay and Gulf Coastal Waters Through 2:45 AM

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Mobile AL has issued a Special Marine Warning effective until 2:45 AM CDT on March 12, 2026. This alert was triggered by radar-indicated strong thunderstorms moving through the coastal regions.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad area of coastal and offshore waters, including:

• North and South Mobile Bay
• Mississippi Sound and Perdido Bay Area
• Pensacola Bay Area, including Santa Rosa Sound
• Coastal waters from Pascagoula, MS, to the Okaloosa-Walton County Line, FL, out to 60 NM.

Specific locations impacted include Big Lagoon, Pensacola Beach, East Fowl River Bridge, Fort Pickens, Farewell Buoy, Heron Bay, Point Clear, Pensacola Bay, Weeks Bay, and East Santa Rosa Sound.

What You Should Do

Mariners and residents in the affected areas are advised to avoid the waters. Small craft are particularly at risk and could be damaged by briefly higher winds and suddenly higher waves. Additionally, a Tornado Watch remains in effect until 2:00 AM CDT for southwestern Alabama and adjacent coastal waters, with a separate Tornado Watch in effect until 7:00 AM CDT for southwestern Alabama and northwestern Florida.

Expected Conditions

At 1:08 AM CDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was located from 18 nm northeast of Battleship Park to 20 nm southeast of Chandeleur Sound. These storms are moving east at 40 knots. The primary hazard is wind gusts reaching up to 40 knots, which may cause suddenly higher waves.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is active from 1:10 AM CDT and is scheduled to expire at 2:45 AM CDT on March 12, 2026.