SMWTAE The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a * Special Marine Warning for... Coastal Waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola FL out to 20 Nm... Coastal Waters from Mexico Beach to Apalachicola out 20 NM... Coastal waters from Okaloosa-Walton County Line to Mexico Beach out 20 NM... Waters from Mexico Beach to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60 NM... Waters from Okaloosa-Walton County Line to Mexico Beach from 20 to 60 NM... * Until 600 PM EDT/500 PM CDT/. * At 357 PM EDT/257 PM CDT/, severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts were located along a line extending from 16 nm east of Mexico Beach to 11 nm south of Port St. Joe to 34 nm west of Empire Mica Wreck, moving east at 20 knots. HAZARD...Waterspouts and wind gusts 34 knots or greater. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Waterspouts can quickly form and capsize boats...damage vessels...and create suddenly higher waves. Make sure all on board are in a secure location and wearing life jackets. Expect wind gusts in excess of 34 knots...suddenly higher waves...frequent lightning...and heavy downpours. Make sure all on board are wearing life jackets. * Locations impacted include... Empire Mica Wreck, Apalachicola, Cape San Blas, Mexico Beach, St George Island, and Port St. Joe.
Recommendations
Move to safe harbor until hazardous weather passes. Thunderstorms can produce sudden waterspouts. Waterspouts can easily overturn boats and create locally hazardous seas. Seek safe harbor immediately.
Tue 11:00 AM → Thu 8:00 AM EDT
WHAT
Northeast winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected.
WHERE
Nearshore Gulf waters from the Ochlockonee River to the Suwannee River out 20 nautical miles, Coastal Waters From Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl out to 20 Nm, and Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60 NM.
WHEN
From 11 AM Tuesday to 8 AM EDT Thursday.
IMPACTS
A Small Craft Advisory means that wind speeds of 20 to 33 knots, or seas of 7 feet or greater, are expected to produce hazardous conditions for small craft. These hazardous conditions may result in poor vessel handling and steering response, broaching, overturned dinghies and kayaks, slips and falls on slippery decks, rub damage along docks and seawalls, and dragging anchors.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Seas increasing to greater than 3 feet just offshore and up to 5 feet beyond 20 Nautical Miles.
Recommendations
Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.
