Jacksonville, Fla. – Hazardous marine conditions are impacting the Florida and Georgia coasts this afternoon as strong thunderstorms bring wind gusts topping 34 knots and rapidly rising seas from Altamaha Sound to St. Augustine.
According to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, a Special Marine Warning is in effect until 4 p.m. Monday for coastal waters, with thunderstorms pushing east at 25 knots. A similar alert remains active near Savannah until 2:45 p.m. The storms, confirmed by radar and coastal buoys, have produced gusts up to 35 knots and pose immediate danger to small vessels.
Waters from Altamaha Sound to Fernandina Beach and south to St. Augustine are seeing the most impact. Key locations include Saint Marys Entrance Buoy 16, Tournament Reef, and Whittakers Snapper Hole Reef. Mariners are urged to move to safe harbor as wave heights spike and gusty squalls sweep through.
Inland, southeast Georgia faces a severe thunderstorm risk through 9 p.m., with wind gusts potentially reaching 60 mph in areas like Alma, Jesup, and Waycross. Isolated storms may drift into northeast Florida later this evening, impacting cities like Jacksonville and Gainesville.
Boaters should secure gear, wear life jackets, and monitor NOAA weather radio. Additional alerts remain possible as storms continue to track offshore and into coastal zones.
