The National Weather Service office in Miami fired off a Spanish-language "aviso especial marítimo" Friday afternoon for Gulf waters off the Everglades, giving boaters and park visitors very little wiggle room to stay ahead of rough weather. Forecasters warned of gusty winds and possible waterspouts in nearshore waters, with the advisory set to expire at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
Aviso Especial Marítimo incluye Aguas costeras desde el Este Cabo Sable hasta Chokoloskee hasta 20 MN y Aguas costeras desde Chokoloskee hasta Playa Bonita hasta 20 MN hasta las 3:30 PM EDT
— NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) July 10, 2026
What the Warning Covered
According to NWS Miami, the bulletin called out North Naples, Naples, Marco Island, Copeland and parts of the Everglades, extending the alert 20 nautical miles offshore. Those waters line up with marine zones GMZ657 and GMZ656 on the National Weather Service map, covering Gulf-side stretches off Marco Island and Naples, and mariners were urged to duck into safe harbor until the storms moved on.
Why This Matters for Boaters
Special Marine Warnings are issued when storms can produce sustained winds or gusts of 34 knots or higher, or when waterspouts are observed or expected. Those are the kinds of hazards that can quickly swamp or capsize smaller boats. Florida's safe-boating guidance notes that waterspouts are essentially tornadoes over open water and can overturn vessels, so even a quick-hitting squall can turn dangerous fast for anyone caught off guard.
How Mariners Should Respond
The advisory urged boaters to seek safe harbor and tie down loose gear while rough conditions persisted. The U.S. Coast Guard also advises mariners to keep an ear on marine broadcasts over VHF channel 16 and report hazardous weather or sightings. Operators of small craft are urged to keep life jackets immediately accessible, skip any attempts to outrun a squall, and head for sheltered waters as soon as a Special Marine Warning goes up.
Local Pattern and What to Watch Next
Short-fuse marine alerts have been a recurring theme along the Everglades Gulf coast this summer, with similar pop-up storms triggering earlier warnings; see Wild Gulf Squalls for recent examples. For the latest conditions, mariners are urged to check official updates from the National Weather Service and the Coast Guard before pushing offshore.
