Marine Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds of 34 to 47 knots over water. Every one the National Weather Service has filed, by year and by state, with the deadliest and costliest.
The deadliest and costliest on the map
The deadliest and costliest marine strong wind episodes on record.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 167
- Deaths
- 79
- Injuries
- 63
- Damage
- $2.2 million
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Every year
Deaths each year
The deadliest
Deaths from this kind of event within each episode.
- Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, February 17, 2022Strong, gusty north winds rapidly developed in the wake of a cold front the evening of February 17th and persisted for 2 hours. Winds gusted to 36 knots at Rincon del San Jose. The winds capsized a 16 foot Jon Boat boat near Port Mansfield in the Laguna Madre.
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, November 1, 2014Long period swell produced high surf and dangerous ocean conditions. A boat capsized and several fatalities occurred.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Superior, August 30, 2018A family of five fell into Lake Superior when their kayak overturned in rough water. The father and three children tried swimming to shore but were found deceased due to hypothermia. The mother was found alive with the kayak. Everyone was wearing life jackets.
- Marine Strong Wind in Guam Waters, December 29 to 30, 2024Choppy seas around 8 to 11 feet, created by long-period north swell from distant systems in the northern Pacific and an elevated trade swell, caused hazardous marine conditions.
- Marine Strong Wind in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, April 10, 2016A 24-foot boat left Stuart with four boaters in the morning. They encountered high seas just offshore the coast generated by gusty onshore winds and the boat capsized. Three of the four boaters drowned and the fourth person made it to the beach and was rescued.
- Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, March 6, 2016A 20 foot recreational boat capsized near Flour Bluff Sunday 6 March 2016 at 3:00 PM CST. According to the U. S. Coast Guard, the boat was originally placed in the water near the JFK Causeway. Eight people were on board. Six were rescued and two were missing.
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, March 15, 2008Two men participating in a race to benefit United Celebral Palsy were lost at sea after they left the Richardson Bay Marina in San Francisco Bay around 9am aboard a 32 foot boat named Daisy on Saturday March 15th.
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, November 27, 2015A strong southeasterly swell along the Atlantic ocean waters off the New Jersey coast produced hazardous seas in the waters off the Monmouth County coast and into Manasquan Inlet during the afternoon of the 27th.
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, October 6 to 7, 2006A strong low pressure system off the North Carolina coast caused gale force winds across much of the Mid Atlantic coast and southern Chesapeake Bay.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, August 10, 2012A tight pressure gradient over Lake Michigan due to strengthening low pressure moving through the Ohio Valley and central Great Lakes was responsible for gusty northeast winds and resultant high waves at Sheboygan Harbor.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Superior, December 23, 2014Waves as high as 6 feet washed a man into the lake as he was sitting on a rock along the shore of Lake Superior at Bluefin Bay Resort. He was wearing swimming trunks as he had just exited a nearby sauna.
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, May 31, 2014Two enlisted men from Texas and California were not equipped for cold and windy waters when they went fishing from kayaks and drowned not far from the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, April 11, 2015Two people died and one was injured while kayaking in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near New Dungeness during strong winds.
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, October 2, 2015Hazardous Seas of up to 13 feet resulted in the capsizing of a fishing boat off of Brooklyn.
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, June 22, 2016An upper level disturbance moved across the region during the 22nd...accompanied by an area of rain moving along the Downeast coast. Locally gusty winds...up to 30 mph...briefly occurred along the leading edge of the area of rain over the waters near Schoodic Point.
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, November 19, 2016A potent cold front passed through. A strong wind shift behind the front along with gusty winds led to a couple fatalities along with an injury.
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, April 15, 2018A boat capsized resulting in two fatalities on the 15th around noon. Gradient winds were estimated to be around 20 knots.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Erie, July 6, 2024At the surface, a cold front drifted eastward from near Long Point, ON and the OH/PA border to western NY and western PA as the parent, occluded low drifted eastward across northern Lake Huron between 8 AM and 11 AM EDT on July 6th.
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, January 18, 2025An approaching low pressure system on January 18th tightened the pressure gradient over the Gulf of Maine. This caused near gale force winds over the Gulf of Maine, with seas building to near 8 feet.
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, April 9, 2011Strong winds and moderate seas produced hazardous conditions for small crafts operating in the surf zone.
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, February 21, 2009Strong winds produced chaotic seas in the central California coastal waters.
- Marine Strong Wind in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, March 6, 2026A strong Atlantic high-pressure system produced fresh to strong easterly winds across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The resulting tight pressure gradient generated choppy to rough seas and a high risk of rip currents across the region.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, June 7, 2007Gale force winds blew across southern Lake Michigan during the afternoon hours of June 7th. A 19 year old man drown in choppy waters while trying to save a friend who was having trouble swimming near Waukegan.
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, July 4, 2007A 32-year-old woman drowned in Barnegat Bay after a boat she was riding in capsized at about 820 p.m. EDT. Winds were estimated to be gusting at 30 to 35 mph from the south at the time the boat capsized. The capsizing was made easier by two waves which struck the boat.
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, September 29, 2007A Pacific storm brought strong winds to the coastal waters, which helped to increase swell conditions in the Columbia River bar. A man was thrown overboard in the strong winds and large swell. The USCG conducted a search, but never found the individual. He is presumed dead.
The costliest
Damage from this kind of event within each episode, in the dollars of its year.
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Erie, July 11, 2020
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 12 to 15, 2019
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 19, 2011
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, January 16, 2018
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 22, 2019
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, March 15, 2008
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, April 9, 2011
- Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, November 26 to 27, 2011
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, February 21, 2009
- Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, April 30, 2017
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 6, 2022
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind in Gulf of Mexico, April 12, 2021
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 31, 2014
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 15, 2015
- Marine Strong Wind in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, March 6, 2026
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, November 30, 2012
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, April 28, 2019
- Marine Strong Wind in Lake Superior, August 21, 2021
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, December 22, 2012
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, March 5, 2012
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, April 28, 2019
- Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, January 20 to 21, 2025
- Marine Strong Wind in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, May 27 to 30, 2012
- Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, October 26, 2018
- Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, December 27, 2006
The strongest winds
The largest measurement in each episode, as filed. Early reports were often estimated.
- 46 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 19, 2011
- 46 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, November 5, 2015
- 46 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 22, 2019
- 45 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, December 27, 2006
- 45 kt: Marine Strong Wind in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, May 3, 2013
- 45 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 15, 2015
- 45 kt: Marine Strong Wind in South Atlantic Coastal Waters, August 22, 2022
- 45 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, January 20 to 21, 2025
- 44 kt: Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, March 5, 2012
- 44 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 31, 2014
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, May 30, 2007
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, August 22, 2008
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, April 23 to 24, 2010
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, November 26 to 27, 2011
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Gulf of Mexico, February 16, 2015
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, March 16, 2016
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, October 24, 2017
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, March 10, 2017
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters, January 16, 2018
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, October 12 to 15, 2019
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, September 16, 2023
- 43 kt: Marine Strong Wind in Lake Michigan, March 21, 2025
- 42 kt: Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, October 29 to 30, 2011
- 42 kt: Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, March 1, 2017
- 42 kt: Marine Strong Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, April 28, 2019
By state
| State or waters | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Atlantic Coastal Waters | 45 | 16 | 29 | $32,000 |
| Gulf of Mexico | 37 | 12 | 6 | $74,000 |
| Lake Michigan | 32 | 9 | 8 | $891,000 |
| Eastern Pacific Coastal Waters | 30 | 18 | 9 | $182,000 |
| South Atlantic Coastal Waters | 12 | 7 | 7 | $15,000 |
| Lake Superior | 5 | 8 | 1 | $5,000 |
| Lake Erie | 3 | 3 | 0 | $1.0 million |
| Hawaiian Waters | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Guam Waters | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Every kind of event
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Hail
- Flash Flood
- High Wind
- Winter Storm
- Drought
- Winter Weather
- Tornado
- Heavy Snow
- Flood
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind
- Heat
- Heavy Rain
- Strong Wind
- Excessive Heat
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
- Cold/Wind Chill
- Lightning
- Dense Fog
- Blizzard
- Frost/Freeze
- Ice Storm
- High Surf
- Funnel Cloud
- Wildfire
- Tropical Storm
- Waterspout
- Coastal Flood
- Lake-Effect Snow
- Debris Flow
- Hurricane (Typhoon)
- Dust Storm
- Rip Current
- Storm Surge/Tide
- Marine High Wind
- Sleet
- Avalanche
- Marine Hail
- Astronomical Low Tide
- Marine Tropical Storm
- Tropical Depression
- Freezing Fog
- Lakeshore Flood
- Dust Devil
- Marine Strong Wind
- Dense Smoke
- Marine Hurricane/Typhoon
- Volcanic Ashfall
- Seiche
- Sneakerwave
- Volcanic Ash
- Tsunami
- Marine Tropical Depression
- Marine Dense Fog
- Northern Lights
- Marine Lightning
- Hurricane
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.