Special Marine Warning Issued for Pensacola Bay and Coastal Waters Through 7:00 AM CDT

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Mobile, Alabama, has issued a Special Marine Warning for the Pensacola Bay area and adjacent coastal waters. The alert was issued at 5:24 AM CDT on March 8, 2026, and remains in effect for the next 90 minutes.

Affected Areas

The warning covers several key maritime zones and coastal regions, including:

• Pensacola Bay Area including Santa Rosa Sound
• Coastal waters from Pensacola, FL, to Pascagoula, MS, out to 20 nautical miles
• Coastal waters from the Okaloosa-Walton County Line to Pensacola, FL, out to 20 nautical miles

Specific locations impacted include Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Pass, Fort Pickens, East Bay, Pensacola Bay Bridge, Garcon Point Bridge, Pensacola Bay, Navarre Beach, and both East and West Santa Rosa Sound.

What You Should Do

Mariners and residents in the affected areas should move to safe harbor immediately. The National Weather Service warns that gusty winds and high waves are expected to create hazardous conditions for small craft. Additionally, frequent lightning is occurring with these storms. If caught on open water, stay below deck if possible and keep away from ungrounded metal objects.

Expected Conditions

At 5:24 AM CDT, radar indicated a line of strong thunderstorms extending from near Blackwater Bay Bridge to near Big Lagoon, moving east at 15 knots. The primary hazard identified is wind gusts of 34 knots or greater. These conditions are expected to cause suddenly higher waves, which could damage small craft.

Timeline

The Special Marine Warning is effective immediately as of 5:24 AM CDT and is scheduled to expire at 7:00 AM CDT on March 8, 2026.