Alert archive / Massachusetts / Gale Warnings in 2026

Gale Warning 13, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

March 17, 2026

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this gale warning at Mar 17, 2026, 12:46 PM EDT. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 17, 2026, 12:46 PM EDT (16:46 UTC)
Expired
Mar 17, 2026, 4:07 PM EDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA

The text

As transmitted.

153 
WHUS71 KBOX 171646
MWWBOX

URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1246 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

ANZ231>235-237-251-180000-
/O.NEW.KBOX.GL.W.0013.260317T1646Z-260318T0000Z/
Cape Cod Bay-Nantucket Sound-Vineyard Sound-Buzzards Bay-
Rhode Island Sound-Block Island Sound-
Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay-
1246 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and seas 
  5 to 8 feet.

* WHERE...Portions of Massachusetts coastal waters and Rhode 
  Island coastal waters. 

* WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could 
  capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions.
Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the
vessel for hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

ANZ250-254>256-180000-
/O.NEW.KBOX.GL.W.0013.260317T1646Z-260318T0000Z/
Coastal waters east of Ipswich Bay and the Stellwagen Bank
National Marine Sanctuary-
Coastal waters from Provincetown MA to Chatham MA to Nantucket MA
out 20 nm-
Coastal Waters extending out to 25 nm South of Marthas Vineyard
and Nantucket-
Coastal Waters from Montauk NY to Marthas Vineyard extending out
to 20 nm South of Block Island-
1246 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...West winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and seas 
  7 to 12 feet.

* WHERE...In Massachusetts coastal waters, Coastal waters east 
  of Ipswich Bay and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine 
  Sanctuary, Coastal waters from Provincetown MA to Chatham MA 
  to Nantucket MA out 20 nm and Coastal Waters extending out to 
  25 nm South of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket. In Rhode Island 
  coastal waters, Coastal Waters from Montauk NY to Marthas 
  Vineyard extending out to 20 nm South of Block Island.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could 
  capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions.
Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the
vessel for hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

ANZ230-172200-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SC.Y.0032.260317T1700Z-260317T2200Z/
Boston Harbor-
1246 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and waves 
  around 2 feet expected.

* WHERE...Boston Harbor.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

ANZ236-172200-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SC.Y.0032.260317T1700Z-260317T2200Z/
Narragansett Bay-
1246 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and waves 
  4 to 7 feet expected.

* WHERE...Narragansett Bay.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

&&

$$
1 follow-up statement
071 
WHUS71 KBOX 172007
MWWBOX

URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
407 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

ANZ231>234-251-181100-
/O.CAN.KBOX.GL.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260318T0000Z/
/O.EXB.KBOX.SC.Y.0032.000000T0000Z-260318T1200Z/
Cape Cod Bay-Nantucket Sound-Vineyard Sound-Buzzards Bay-
Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay-
407 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY...
...GALE WARNING IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 
  4 to 6 feet.

* WHERE...Cape Cod Bay, Nantucket Sound, Vineyard Sound, 
  Buzzards Bay and Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay.

* WHEN...Until 8 AM EDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

ANZ235-237-181100-
/O.CAN.KBOX.GL.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260318T0000Z/
/O.EXB.KBOX.SC.Y.0032.000000T0000Z-260319T0000Z/
Rhode Island Sound-Block Island Sound-
407 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY...
...GALE WARNING IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 
  6 to 9 feet.

* WHERE...Rhode Island Sound and Block Island Sound.

* WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

ANZ250-254>256-181100-
/O.CAN.KBOX.GL.W.0013.000000T0000Z-260318T0000Z/
/O.EXB.KBOX.SC.Y.0032.000000T0000Z-260319T1200Z/
Coastal waters east of Ipswich Bay and the Stellwagen Bank
National Marine Sanctuary-
Coastal waters from Provincetown MA to Chatham MA to Nantucket MA
out 20 nm-
Coastal Waters extending out to 25 nm South of Marthas Vineyard
and Nantucket-
Coastal Waters from Montauk NY to Marthas Vineyard extending out
to 20 nm South of Block Island-
407 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THURSDAY...
...GALE WARNING IS CANCELLED...

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 
  7 to 12 feet.

* WHERE...In Massachusetts coastal waters, Coastal waters east 
  of Ipswich Bay and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine 
  Sanctuary, Coastal waters from Provincetown MA to Chatham MA 
  to Nantucket MA out 20 nm and Coastal Waters extending out to 
  25 nm South of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket. In Rhode Island 
  coastal waters, Coastal Waters from Montauk NY to Marthas 
  Vineyard extending out to 20 nm South of Block Island.

* WHEN...Until 8 AM EDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

ANZ230-172200-
/O.CON.KBOX.SC.Y.0032.000000T0000Z-260317T2200Z/
Boston Harbor-
407 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and waves 
  around 2 feet.

* WHERE...Boston Harbor.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

ANZ236-172200-
/O.CON.KBOX.SC.Y.0032.000000T0000Z-260317T2200Z/
Narragansett Bay-
407 PM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and waves 
  4 to 6 feet.

* WHERE...Narragansett Bay.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller
vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 17, 6:03 AM EDTGale WarningBOX117 min
Mar 17, 12:46 PM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryBOX29 hr

Nearby

Gale Warnings in Massachusetts, 2026Every gale warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.