Panama City, FL – Boaters along the Florida Panhandle face dangerous marine conditions today as gale-force winds and rough seas move across the Gulf of Mexico. The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a Gale Warning from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Oct. 29, followed by a Small Craft Advisory extending into early Friday.
Forecasters warn of west winds 20–30 knots with gusts up to 35 knots and seas reaching 6–9 feet from Apalachicola west to the Okaloosa-Walton County line, including both nearshore and offshore waters out to 60 nautical miles.
After 10 p.m. tonight, winds will remain elevated at 20–25 knots from the northwest with continued rough seas, maintaining hazardous conditions for small vessels.
According to the NWS, mariners should remain in port or seek safe harbor through the day. The combination of strong winds and high seas could capsize or damage smaller boats and reduce visibility in open waters. Conditions are expected to gradually improve by late Thursday night into Friday morning.
