Few people are affected more by weather than the mariner. An unexpected change
in winds, seas, or visibility can reduce the efficiency of marine operations
and threaten the safety of a vessel and its crew. The National Weather Service
(NWS), a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
provides marine weather warnings and forecasts to serve all mariners who use
the waters for livelihood or recreation. This pamphlet describes marine weather
services available from the NWS and other agencies.
The warning and forecast program is the core of the NWS’s responsibility to mariners. Warnings and forecasts help the mariner plan and make decisions protecting life and property. NWS also provides information through weather statements or outlooks that supplement basic warnings and forecasts. The following are the basic marine warning products the NWS offers.
Small Craft Advisory: Forecast winds of 18 to 33 knots. NWS may also issue
Small Craft Advisories for hazardous sea conditions or lower wind
speeds that may affect small craft operations.
Gale Warning: Forecast winds of 34 to 47 knots.
Storm Warning: Forecast winds of 48 knots or greater.
Tropical StormWarning: Forecast winds of 34 to 63 knots associated with
a tropical storm.
HurricaneWarning: Forecast winds of 64 knots or higher associated with
a hurricane.
Special MarineWarning: Potentially hazardous over-water events of short
duration (up to 2 hours).
These advisories and warnings are headlined in marine forecasts. (Details are
included elsewhere in this brochure.) Small Craft Advisories may be issued up
to 12 hours before the onset of adverse conditions and warnings up to 24 hours
in advance.
Issued by coastal NWS offices for mariners staying near shore at the following
times.
EAST: 430AM, 1030A 430P 1030P
GULF: 330AM, 930A 330P 930P
WEST: 230AM, 830A 230P 830P
ALASKA:300AM, 300PM
HAWAII: 600AM, NOON, 600P, Midnight
Note: Table is for local standard times. Issuance times are 1 hour later for
those states that switch to daylight savings time.
Content and Format
COASTAL MARINE FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
500 PM EDT MON APR 6 1998
MONTAUK POINT NEW YORK TO SANDY HOOK NEW JERSEY OUT TO 20 NM OFFSHORE INCLUDING
LONG ISLAND SOUND AND NEW YORK HARBOR
.SYNOPSIS...AN INTENSE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT.
A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER QUEBEC WILL MOVE INTO NEW ENGLAND TONIGHT
AND BECOME STATIONARY TUESDAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY.
ANZ350-355-070230-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LONGITUDE 73 DEGREES WEST TO MONTAUK POINT NY.
COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK NJ TO LONGITUDE 73 DEGREES WEST
500 PM EDT MON APR 6 1998
...A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT...
.TONIGHT...NORTHWEST WIND 35 KTS DIMINISHING TO 5 TO 15 KTS BY MORNING.
SEAS 12 FT SUBSIDING TO 6 FT BY MORNING. WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS.
.TUE...NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 KTS. SEAS 6 FT DIMINISHING TO 4 FT.
.TUE NIGHT...NORTH WINDS LESS THAN 10 KTS. SEAS 2 FT.
.WED...NORTHEAST WINDS LESS THAN 10 KTS. SEAS 2 FT.
(A 3 TO 5 DAY OUTLOOK IS INCLUDED AT THE END OF THE PRODUCT.)
Effective times are generally the same as those for coastal forecasts. These forecasts, issued by certain NWS offices, are mainly geared to those mariners operating farther offshore, a day or more from safe harbor.
Offices Issuing Offshore Forecasts
(Issuance times similar to Coastal Marine Forecasts)
Ocean Prediction Center...off New England and Mid-Atlantic, off West Coast
Miami...off Southeast US and Caribbean
New Orleans...Gulf of Mexico
Honolulu...off Hawaii
Anchorage...Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska
Content and Format
OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WASHINGTON DC
OCEAN PREDICTION CENTER/MARINE FORECAST BRANCH
930 AM PDT THU APR 09 1998
CALIFORNIA WATERS FROM 60 NM TO 250 NM OFFSHORE
.SYNOPSIS...A TROUGH OF LOW PRES WILL SWING E THROUGH THE N PORTION
THROUGH FRI. A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE SE THROUGH THE CENTRAL
PORTION TODAY AND THE S PORTION TONIGHT WHERE IT WILL WEAKEN. A SECOND
FRONT WILL MOVE SE THROUGH THE CENTRAL PORTION LATE TONIGHT AND S
PORTION FRI AS A HIGH PRES RIDGE REMAINS IN THE FAR SE PORTION.
$$
PZZ083-092230-
POINT ST GEORGE TO POINT ARENA
.TODAY...W PORTION...W TO SW WINDS 20 TO 30 KT BECOMING W TO NW LATE. SEAS 10
TO 13 FT.
E PORTION...SW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 8 TO 10 FT. SCATTERED SHOWERS THROUGHOUT.
.TONIGHT...W PORTION...NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT BECOMING N LATE.
E PORTION...SW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT BECOMING W LATE.
SEAS 9 TO 13 FT THROUGHOUT. SCATTERED SHOWERS THROUGHOUT.
.FRI...WINDS BECOMING N 15 TO 25 KT THROUGHOUT. HIGHEST WINDS W PORTION.
SEAS SUBSIDING TO 9 TO 13 FT. WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS ENDING.
(A 3 TO 5 DAY OUTLOOK IS INCLUDED AT THE END OF THE PRODUCT.)
Forecasts are geared to the needs of the largest ocean-going vessels. Emphasis
is placed on gale force or worse conditions.
Issuing Offices - Issuance Times (UTC)
OPC/TPC - WEST ATLANTIC - 0430 1030 1630 2230
OPC/TPC - EAST PACIFIC - 0545 1145 1745 2345
HNL - NORTH PACIFIC - 0445 1045 1645 2245
HNL - SOUTH PACIFIC - 0515 1115 1715 2315
TPC - TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER, Miami, FL
OPC - OCEAN PREDICTION CENTER, Washington, DC
HNL - NWS FORECAST OFFICE, Honolulu, HI
Content and Format
HIGH SEAS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WASHINGTON DC
OCEAN PREDICTION CENTER/MFB 1630 UTC APR 10 1998
SUPERSEDED BY NEXT ISSUANCE IN 6 HOURS
SECURITE
NORTH ATLANTIC NORTH OF 31 N TO 67 N AND WEST OF 35 W.
SYNOPSIS VALID 1200 UTC APR 10. FORECAST VALID 0000 UTC APR 13.
WARNINGS
STORM 42N 64W 982 MB WILL MOVE NE 20 KT AND WEAKEN. WINDS 40 TO 55 KT AND
SEAS 16 TO 28 FT WITHIN 240 NM OVER THE SE QUADRANT. WIND 25 TO 40 KT SEAS
12 TO 20 FT ELSEWHERE WITHIN 660 NM SE SEMICIRCLE AND 240 NM NW
SEMICIRCLE. FORECAST GALE 54N 51W 988 MB. FORECAST WINDS 25 TO 40 KT AND
SEAS 12 TO 22 FT WITHIN 780 NM OVER THE E QUADRANT AND 600 NM OVER THE S
QUADRANT AND 480 NM ELSEWHERE.
GALE 57N 60W 993 MB WILL MOVE NW 20 KT AND WEAKEN. WINDS 25 TO 35 KT AND
SEAS 10 TO 18 FT WITHIN 540 NM NE QUADRANT. FORECAST DISSIPATED.
SYNOPSIS AND FORECAST
LOW 43N 33W 1014 MB WILL DISSIPATE. WINDS 20 TO 30 KT AND SEAS 8 TO 14 FT WITHIN
480 NM N AND NE QUADRANTS. FORECAST DISSIPATED.
FORECAST LOW CENTER NEAR 31N 67W 1009 MB TO MOVE NE 15 KT. WINDS 20 TO 30
KT SEAS 8 TO 14 FT WITHIN 540 NM NW QUADRANT.
HIGH 32N 46W 1024 MB WILL DRIFT E. FORECAST HIGH 34N 40W 1028 MB.
The NWS issues Special Marine Warnings for potentially hazardous over-water
events, usually of short duration (up to 2 hours), not adequately covered by
other
marine warnings and forecasts. These events include thunderstorms, waterspouts,
squalls, wind shifts, and other short-lived conditions. Special Marine Warnings
are issued mainly for the coastal waters but may also be issued for offshore
areas. If a tornado or severe thunderstorm is expected to move over coastal
waters,
NWS issues a Special Marine Warning. If a severe thunderstorm or waterspout
is expected to move ashore, NWS issues separate warnings (SVR and/or TOR) for
land areas.
Content and Format
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SPECIAL MARINE WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA
250 PM PDT WED AUG 6 1997
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD HAS ISSUED A
Marine Weather Statements
Marine Weather Statements are used to follow up the Special Marine Warnings or to provide information on non-severe conditions such as fog.
Hurricane and Tropical Storm Advisories are issued for the Atlantic, Pacific,
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions as needed by the Tropical Prediction
Center in Miami and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu. These
advisories are issued at least four times a day during the tropical cyclone
season
and extend out to 72 hours.
For the tropical West Pacific (between 130oE and the International Dateline),
typhoon and tropical storm advisories are issued when necessary by the Joint
Typhoon Warning Center. Tropical Cyclone Public Advisories are issued as needed
by the NWS office in Guam.
Hurricane warnings are issued for forecast winds of 64 knots or higher associated
with a hurricane.
The goals of GMDSS are to provide more effective and efficient emergency and
safety communications and disseminate Maritime Safety Information (MSI) to all
ships on the world’s oceans regardless of location or atmospheric conditions.
MSI includes navigational warnings, meteorological warnings and forecasts, and
other urgent safety-related information. NWS takes part directly in the GMDSS
by preparing meteorological warnings and forecasts for broadcast via NAVTEX
and SafetyNET.
For maps of NAVTEX coverage areas, please refer to http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/ marcomms.
The NWS has established a nationwide Marine Report Program (MAREP) to help
improve marine warnings and forecasts. Through this cooperative effort, mariners
make radio reports of sea and wind conditions to NWS marine forecasters. If
you would like to participate or learn more about this volunteer program, please
call
your local NWS office.
NOAA Weather Radio (NWR): Marine weather products are widely disseminated via U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) broadcasts, NOAA Weather Radio, Internet and other media. Schedules for marine broadcasts are listed in NIMA Publication 117 and NWS Marine Weather Service Charts, available at your local National Ocean Service chart agent. Details on the dissemination of NWS marine products may be found on the Marine Product Dissemination Information Web Page.
NOAA Telephone Recordings: The NWR network provides voice broadcasts of coastal and marine forecasts on a continuous cycle. This network covers nearly all of the continental United States, Hawaii, the populated Alaskan coastline, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Typical coverage is 25 nm offshore. When severe weather threatens, an alarm tone is sent to automatically turn on compatible NWR receivers in the transmitter’s coverage area.
NOAA HF VOICE: Many NWS forecast offices offer recorded marine and local forecasts by telephone. The numbers are usually listed in the telephone directory under “United States Government, Commerce Department, National Weather Service.”
USCG HF Radiofax: NOAA broadcasts offshore forecasts, coastal waters forecasts and storm warnings on 4125 kHz in Alaska.
USCG VHF VOICE: The USCG broadcasts high seas weather maps, sea surface temperature maps, and text forecasts over HF radiofax. Transmitter sites are located at Boston (NMF), New Orleans (NMG), Kodiak (NOJ), Pt. Reyes (NMC), and Honolulu (KVM-70).
USCG broadcasts coastal waters forecasts and storm warnings on VHF Channel
22A after an initial call on VHF Channel 16. The USCG VHF network provides near-continuous
coverage of continental US coastline, Hawaii, the populated Alaskan coastline,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Typical coverage is 25 nm offshore.
USCG MF VOICE: USCG broadcasts offshore forecasts and storm warnings on 2670 kHz following an initial call on 2182 kHz.
USCG HF Voice: USCG voice broadcast of high seas forecasts. Limited offshore forecasts also are available.
USCG SITOR (NBDP): Also known as Narrow Band Direct Printing is a text broadcast of high seas forecast. Limited offshore forecasts are also available.
NAVTEX: NAVTEX is a USCG broadcast of offshore warnings and forecasts
in text form. Limited coastal forecasts are also available. Typical coverage
is 200 nm offshore.
INMARSAT-C SafetyNET: This is a broadcast of Maritime Safety Information that includes high seas weather.
WWV and WWVH (time tick): A summary of Atlantic and Pacific high seas storm information.
Web Sites of Interest
DIAL-A-BUOY: Mariners can obtain the latest coastal and offshore weather observations through a telephone service called Dial-A-Buoy. This service provides wind and wave measurements taken within the last hour at stations located in the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Great Lakes. To access Dial-a-Buoy, dial 228/688-1948 using a touch tone or cellular phone. Enter the five-digit station identifier when prompted. The Diala-Buoy menu tree has a selection for the caller to receive a map of buoy station identifiers via return call fax. Station identifiers can also be obtained at the following web site: http://seaboard.ndbc.noaa.gov.
MSC charts are available for 15 segments of the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Great Lakes. These charts are regularly updated.
MSC charts contain maps of the area including locations of NWR transmitters,
USCG stations, and marine observation sites; helpful information such as locations,
times, and frequencies of marine broadcasts; and NWS telephone numbers. MSC
charts can be purchased from:
National Ocean Service
Distribution Division (N/ACC3)
Riverside, MD 20737-1199
Telephone: 301-436-8301
MSC charts can also
be found on-line at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/pub.htm.
The NWS publishes Marine Weather Service Charts for the following segments
of the US coastline.
MSC-1 Eastport, ME to Montauk Point, NY
MSC-2 Montauk Point, NY to Manasquan, NJ
MSC-3 Manasquan, NJ to Cape Hatteras, NC
MSC-4 Cape Hatteras, NC to Savannah, GA
MSC-5 Savannah, GA to Apalachicola, FL
MSC-6 Apalachicola, FL to Morgan City, LA
MSC-7 Morgan City, LA to Brownsville, TX
MSC-8 Mexican Border to Pt. Conception, CA
MSC-9 Pt. Conception to Pt. St. George, CA
MSC-10 Pt. St. George, CA to Canadian Border
MSC-11/12 Great Lakes
MSC-13 Hawaii Waters
MSC-14 Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
MSC-14S Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands (Spanish)*
MSC-15 Alaska Waters
MSC-16 Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands
*planned
For boating safety weather rules, see Safe Boating Weather Tips (NOAA PA 94058)
at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures.shtml