NOAA NWS / Event history

Special Marine Warning issued October 18 at 4:21AM EDT until October 18 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Key West FL

Special Marine Warning · Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas out 20 NM; Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas 20 to 60 NM out. Severe; likely; urgency: immediate.

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Bulletin issued: 18 October 2026 at 08:21 UTC
First saved by us: 18 October 2026 at 08:32 UTC
Last included in a daily record: 18 October 2026
The linked daily edition preserves what we captured that UTC day; this event page is not a live warning.
Source classification: Severe · Source alert

A recent feed check does not mean a new observation. This page preserves source records; it does not establish current safety or warning status.

Issuer / area: NWS Key West FL · Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas out 20 NM; Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas 20 to 60 NM out
Certainty / urgency: Likely / Immediate
Message expiry (not hazard end): 18 October 2026 at 08:45 UTC
Forecast onset / end: 18 October 2026 at 08:21 UTC / 18 October 2026 at 08:45 UTC

Archived official description

SMWKEY The National Weather Service in Key West has issued a * Special Marine Warning for... Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 nm west of Dry Tortugas out 60 nm... * Until 445 AM EDT. * At 421 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm with possible waterspouts was located 20 nm southeast of Tortugas Ecological Reserve South, moving south at 5 knots. HAZARD...Waterspouts and wind gusts 34 knots or greater. SOURCE...National Weather Service Meteorologist. IMPACT...Waterspouts can quickly form and capsize boats, cause considerable damage to vessels and create suddenly higher waves. Expect wind gusts in excess of 34 knots, suddenly higher waves, frequent lightning, and heavy downpours. * The strong thunderstorm will remain over mainly open waters.

Instructions in this archived message

Prepare for wind gusts in excess of 34 knots, steep and fast-building seas, frequent lightning, and blinding downpours. Stay low or go below, and make sure all on board are wearing life jackets.

The saved record

What changed

0 updates · 1 first record

Each update compares two versions we saved. This may not include every update from the source. A missing report does not mean an event has ended.

First saved record · 18 October 2026 at 08:32 UTC

Saved by us

18 October 2026 at 08:32 UTC

Starting point

First saved record

Our first saved version of Special Marine Warning issued October 18 at 4:21AM EDT until October 18 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Key West FL. We have no earlier saved version to compare.

Bulletin issued: 18 October 2026 at 08:21 UTC

View saved version 1

Original saved fields, unchanged. This is our record, not an archived copy of the external webpage.

{
  "id": "nws:b167f700c1a5a2600b87cf96",
  "authorityId": "urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.d0e0e025c6b7d89653e477b2877ac3c9b09b0187.001.1",
  "sender": "w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov",
  "references": [],
  "category": "weather",
  "title": "Special Marine Warning issued October 18 at 4:21AM EDT until October 18 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Key West FL",
  "eventType": "Special Marine Warning",
  "occurredAt": "2026-10-18T08:21:00.000Z",
  "issuedAt": "2026-10-18T08:21:00.000Z",
  "timeBasis": "Bulletin issued",
  "effectiveAt": "2026-10-18T08:21:00.000Z",
  "onsetAt": "2026-10-18T08:21:00.000Z",
  "expiresAt": "2026-10-18T08:45:00.000Z",
  "forecastEndAt": "2026-10-18T08:45:00.000Z",
  "severity": "Severe",
  "urgency": "Immediate",
  "certainty": "Likely",
  "messageType": "Alert",
  "status": "Source alert",
  "place": "Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas out 20 NM; Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas 20 to 60 NM out",
  "coordinates": null,
  "issuer": "NWS Key West FL",
  "summary": "Special Marine Warning · Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas out 20 NM; Straits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 NM west of Dry Tortugas 20 to 60 NM out. Severe; likely; urgency: immediate.",
  "description": "SMWKEY\n\nThe National Weather Service in Key West has issued a\n\n* Special Marine Warning for...\nStraits of Florida from Halfmoon Shoal to 20 nm west of Dry\nTortugas out 60 nm...\n\n* Until 445 AM EDT.\n\n* At 421 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm with possible waterspouts was\nlocated 20 nm southeast of Tortugas Ecological Reserve South,\nmoving south at 5 knots.\n\nHAZARD...Waterspouts and wind gusts 34 knots or greater.\n\nSOURCE...National Weather Service Meteorologist.\n\nIMPACT...Waterspouts can quickly form and capsize boats, cause\nconsiderable damage to vessels and create suddenly higher\nwaves. Expect wind gusts in excess of 34 knots, suddenly\nhigher waves, frequent lightning, and heavy downpours.\n\n* The strong thunderstorm will remain over mainly open waters.",
  "instruction": "Prepare for wind gusts in excess of 34 knots, steep and fast-building\nseas, frequent lightning, and blinding downpours. Stay low or go\nbelow, and make sure all on board are wearing life jackets.",
  "url": "https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.d0e0e025c6b7d89653e477b2877ac3c9b09b0187.001.1",
  "source": "nws",
  "sourceName": "NOAA NWS"
}

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