Tampa, Florida – Thick sea fog is blanketing the Gulf waters off west-central Florida, reducing visibility to near zero and creating hazardous boating conditions through Saturday morning.
A Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. EST Saturday for coastal and offshore waters from Bonita Beach north to the Suwannee River, including areas up to 60 nautical miles offshore. The advisory covers nearshore waters off Englewood, Tarpon Springs and Cedar Key, as well as offshore Gulf routes frequently used by commercial and recreational vessels.
Visibility may drop to 1 nautical mile or less, making navigation difficult, especially overnight and around sunrise. According to the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay Ruskin, dense fog can quickly disorient boaters and reduce reaction time in busy shipping lanes and near inlets.
Mariners should proceed with extreme caution. Use radar and compass navigation, ensure all running lights are operational and sound proper fog signals. Slowing down and maintaining a sharp lookout are critical in low-visibility conditions.
The fog is expected to gradually lift late Saturday morning as winds shift and drier air moves in. Until then, boaters should consider delaying departures if possible.
Calmer weather is expected later this weekend once visibility improves.
