Pensacola, Fla. – Boaters near Pensacola Bay and surrounding Gulf waters should seek safe harbor immediately as severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts and damaging wind gusts over 34 knots move through the area early Thursday.
According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, issued by the New Orleans office, a Special Marine Warning remains in effect until 5 a.m. CDT for coastal waters from the Okaloosa-Walton County Line to Pascagoula, including Pensacola Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, and Choctawhatchee Bay. As of 2:59 a.m., radar showed a line of strong storms stretching from Fort Pickens to roughly 73 nautical miles south of Farewell Buoy, moving east at 15 knots.
The primary hazards include sudden waterspouts and strong wind gusts, both of which pose immediate danger to small vessels. Locations impacted include Fort Walton Beach, Shalimar, Pensacola Pass, and the Pensacola Bay Bridge.
The National Weather Service urges all mariners in the area to move to safe harbor immediately. Waterspouts can easily capsize boats and generate localized hazardous seas.
Further warnings may be issued if the storm system intensifies or changes course.
