Gale Warning in effect offshore from Cocoa Beach to Sebastian Inlet through October 19; Small Craft Advisory covers the Treasure Coast south to Jupiter Inlet
NWS Melbourne FL issued a Gale Warning at 2:38 AM EDT Saturday, October 17 for offshore waters from the Volusia-Brevard County Line south to Sebastian Inlet, covering both the 0-to-20 NM and 20-to-60 NM zones. A Small Craft Advisory covers the contiguous corridor from Sebastian Inlet south to Jupiter Inlet through the same Monday morning window. Both run through 2:00 AM EDT Monday, October 19. No offshore departure from Port Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach, Vero Beach, or Fort Pierce is appropriate through Sunday night. Check weather.gov/mlb for current zone text.
NWS Melbourne FL issued a Gale Warning at 2:38 AM EDT Saturday, October 17, 2026 for offshore waters from the Volusia-Brevard County Line south to Sebastian Inlet. The warning covers the 0-to-20 nautical mile zone and the 20-to-60 NM zone and runs through 2:00 AM EDT Monday, October 19. In the same issuance, NWS Melbourne issued a Small Craft Advisory for the contiguous offshore corridor from Sebastian Inlet south to Jupiter Inlet, also covering 0 to 60 NM, through the same Monday morning window.
The Gale Warning zone covers offshore waters accessed from Port Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Patrick Space Force Base, Melbourne Beach, Wabasso Beach, and Sebastian Inlet. The Small Craft Advisory zone covers the Treasure Coast offshore corridor accessed from Vero Beach, Fort Pierce Inlet, Stuart, and Hobe Sound, stopping at the Jupiter Inlet boundary where a separate NWS Miami FL Small Craft Advisory takes over. That Miami advisory covers waters from Jupiter Inlet south through Biscayne Bay and along the Gulf coast through October 19 at 2:00 AM EDT.
NDBC buoy 41113 (Cape Canaveral Nearshore, FL) recorded seas of 2 feet and water at 82 degrees Fahrenheit as of 12:56 AM EST October 17, roughly 40 minutes before the warning was issued. NDBC buoy 41068 (Fort Pierce, FL) reported SSW winds of 4 knots gusting to 8 knots and water at 84 degrees Fahrenheit as of 12:08 AM EST October 17. Those observations predate the warning issuance. Gale Warning criteria mean NWS Melbourne was forecasting sustained winds of 34 to 47 knots for the warned zone. The current NWS Melbourne zone forecast, not the buoy point observations, is the controlling product.
October is the front edge of sailfish season on the Treasure Coast. Anglers out of Fort Pierce and Stuart typically see the first fish of the fall run arrive ahead of the November push as offshore water temperatures ease from summer highs. The Space Coast nearshore corridor produces Spanish mackerel and cobia in October as bait schools move south along the beach. That window is closed through Sunday night on both sides of Sebastian Inlet. Pull the current NWS Melbourne product at weather.gov/mlb for zone-specific text before any departure from Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, or Martin County inlets.
On the water: Rules and conditions can change quickly. Confirm current regulations and official marine forecasts for your exact trip.