A Mariner’s Guide to

Marine Weather Services

Coastal, Offshore and High Seas

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Weather Service

NOAA PA 98054
Small Craft

Advisory:

Gale Warning:

Storm Warning:

Hurricane Force

Wind Warning:

Tropical Storm

Warning:

Hurricane

Warning:

Special Marine

Warning: Warning:

Usually, forecast winds of 22 to 33 knots.

NWS may also issue Small Craft

Advisories for hazardous sea conditions

or lower wind speeds that may affect

small craft operations.

Forecast winds of 34 to 47 knots.

Forecast winds of 48 or higher not

associated with a tropical cyclone

Warning of a storm with forecast winds

of 64 knots or higher not associated with

a tropical cyclone.

Forecast winds of 34 to 63 knots

associated with a tropical storm.

Forecast winds of 64 knots or higher

associated with a hurricane.

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.

Introduction

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.

Warning and Forecast Ser ecast Services

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.
Oceanic Pr Oceanic Products

Coastal Marine Forecasts

Issued by coastal NWS offices for mariners staying near shore at the following

times. Note: Updates issued as necessary.

 EAST FL+ GULF USVI/PR WEST ALASKA HAWAII MS/GUAM

#330AM #330PM #330PM *430PM #300PM *400AM *1200PM *500PM

#330PM #330PM #330PM *430PM #300PM *400AM *1200AM *500PM

*930AM *930AM *930AM 1030AM 930AM *400PM 600AM *600AM

*930PM *930PM *930PM 1030PM 930PM *400PM 600 PM *600PM

* Time in local year round.

# Local standard time. Issuance times are one hour later in daylight savings time.

+ Except Florida panhandle.

Content and Format (Example)

COASTAL MARINE FORECAST

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME

1010 AM EDT THU JUL 10 2003

ANZ100-102100-

SYNOPSIS FOR STONINGTON ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT TO 25 NM1010 AM EDT THU JUL 10 2003

.SYNOPSIS...HIGH PRES WILL MOVE E OF THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND

TONIGHT.

$ $

ANZ150-102100-

STONINGTON ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT TO 25 NM1010 AM EDT THU JUL 10 2003

.THIS AFTERNOON...NE WIND 10 TO 15 KTS BECOMING E AROUND 15 KTS.

SEAS 1 TO 3 FT.

.TONIGHT...E WINDS AROUND 15 KTS. SEAS 1 TO 3 FT. VSBY 1 TO

3 NM IN ANY LATE NIGHT SHOWERS.

.FRI...SE WINDS INCREASING TO 20 TO 25 KTS. SEAS BUILDING TO 3 TO 5

FT. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS IN SHOWERS AND AREAS OF FOG. SCATTERED TSTMS.

.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS AROUND 25 KTS BECOMING W. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT.

VSBY 1 NM OR LESS IN SHOWERS AND AREAS OF FOG. SCATTERED TSTMS.

.SAT THROUGH SUN...SW WINDS 15 TO 20 KTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FT.

.MON...SE WINDS AROUND 15 KTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT. CHANCE OF SHOWERS.

$ $

Offshore Forecasts

Issued by NWS marine centers and certain NWS offices. Forecasts are geared to

those mariners operating farther offshore, a day or more from safe harbor. Issuance

times are similar to adjacent coastal forecasts.

Marine Centers and NWS

Ocean Prediction Center...New England and Mid-Atlantic, West Coast

Tropical Prediction Center...Tropical Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico

Honolulu Weather Forecast Office...Hawaii

Anchorage Weather Forecast Office...Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska

Content and Format (Example)

OFFSHORE WATERS FORECAST

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WASHINGTON DC

OCEAN PREDICTION CENTER/OCEAN FORECAST BRANCH

930 AM PDT THU 10 JUL 2003

WASHINGTON AND OREGON WATERS FROM 60 NM TO 250 NM OFFSHORE.

PZZ080-102330-

.SYNOPSIS...A COLD FRONT WILL WEAKEN AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE WATERS

TODAY. HIGH PRES WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION TODAY INTO FRI NIGHT. A LOW

PRES TROUGH WILL MOVE INTO THE WATERS FRI NIGHT AND SAT. HIGH PRES WILL

BUILD OVER THE OREGON WATERS SUN AND MON WHILE A LOW PRES TROUGH

PERSISTS ACROSS THE WASHINGTON WATERS.

$ $

PZZ081-102330-

CAPE FLATTERY TO CAPE LOOKOUT

930 AM PDT THU 10 JUL 2003

.TODAY...S TO SE WINDS 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 10 FT...HIGHEST W.

WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS W.

.TONIGHT AND FRI...S WINDS 5 TO 15 KT. SEAS SUBSIDING TO 4 TO 6

FT.

.FRI NIGHT...S WINDS 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. WIDELY

SCATTERED SHOWERS W.

.SAT...S TO SW WINDS 15 TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 8 FT.

.SUN AND MON...S TO SW WINDS 10 TO 20 KT. SEAS 5 TO 9 FT.

$ $
Issued by NWS marine centers and some offices. Forecasts are geared to 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

HFO - NORTH PACIFIC - 0500 1100 1700 2300

HFO - SOUTH PACIFIC - 0530 1130 1730 2330

TPC - TROPICAL PREDICTION CENTER, Miami, FL

OPC - OCEAN PREDICTION CENTER, Washington, DC

HFO - NWS FORECAST OFFICE, Honolulu, HI

Content and Format (Example)

HIGH SEAS FORECAST FOR METAREA IV

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WASHINGTON DC/TPC MIAMI FL

OCEAN PREDICTION CENTER/OFB 1630 UTC MAY 08 2003

SUPERSEDED BY NEXT ISSUANCE IN 6 HOURS

SECURITE

NORTH ATLANTIC NORTH OF 31N TO 67N AND WEST OF 35W.

SYNOPSIS VALID 1200 UTC MAY 08.

24 HOUR FORECAST VALID 1200 UTC MAY 09.

48 HOUR FORECAST VALID 1200 UTC MAY 10.

WARNINGS.

...GALE WARNING...

.AREA OF NW GALE WINDS 25 TO 35 KT SEAS 9 TO 15 FT FROM 55N TO 67N

E OF 53W.

.24 HOUR FORECAST LOW 60N 42W 1008 MB. FORECAST WINDS 25 TO 35 KT

SEAS 9 TO 15 FT E OF A LINE FROM 62N 51W TO 58N 49W TO 53N 38W.

.48 HOUR FORECAST LOW 60N 38W 1008 MB. FORECAST WINDS 25 TO 35 KT

SEAS 9 TO 15 FT E OF A LINE FROM 61N 50W TO 58N 48W TO 55N 37W.

...GALE WARNING...

.LOW 39N 71W 1008 MB MOVING E 25 KT. WINDS 25 TO 35 KT SEAS 8 TO

13 FT WITHIN 300 NM SE QUADRANT.

.24 HOUR FORECAST LOW 40N 58W 1004 MB. FORECAST WINDS 25 TO 35 KT

SEAS 8 TO 13 FT WITHIN 480 NM SE AND 420 NM SW QUADRANTS.

.48 HOUR FORECAST LOW 46N 57W 989 MB. FORECAST WINDS 25 TO 40 KT

SEAS 10 TO 18 FT FROM 38N TO 52N BETWEEN 41W AND 63W.

SYNOPSIS AND FORECAST.

.LOW 45N 60W 1011 MB MOVING NE 10 KT. WINDS 20 TO 30 KT SEAS TO 10

FT FROM 42N TO 48N BETWEEN 47W AND 59W.

.24 HOUR FORECAST AREA OF E WINDS 20 TO 30 KT SEAS TO 10 FT FROM

44N TO 50N BETWEEN 48W AND 60W.

.48 HOUR FORECAST CONDITIONS ABSORBED BY FORECAST LOW 46N 57W.

High Seas Warnings and Forecasts

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.

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 (Example)

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

* SPECIAL MARINE WARNING FOR...

THE EAST SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL

FROM PT CONCEPTION TO PT MUGU INCLUDING SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

* UNTIL 400 PM PDT

* AT 245 PM PDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR

INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING BETWEEN OXNARD

AND SANTA CRUZ ISLAND...MOVING TO THE NORTHWEST AT 20 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 40 KNOTS...ROUGH

SEAS AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY. BOATERS IN EAST SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL

SHOULD TRY TO SEEK SAFE HARBOR.

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 low-water levels,

dense fog, high surf conditions, hazardous materials spills, trends for increasing

and/or decreasing winds, volcanic ash, or to advise for the potential development

of warning conditions.

Hurricane and Tropical Storm Advisories

Special Marine Warnings
Global Maritime Distress And

Safety System (GMDSS) Safety System (GMDSS)

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,

HF NBDP, and SafetyNET.

Hurricane Warnings

Hurricane warnings are issued for forecast winds of 64 knots or higher associated

with a hurricane.

Tropical Storm Warnings

Tropical Storm warnings are issued for forecast winds of 34 to 63 knots associated

with a tropical storm.

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 Advisories are issued as needed by

the NWS office in Guam.

Hurricane and Tropical Storm Advisories

The National Weather Service has a number of volunteer observation programs

including the SKYWARN, MAREP, MAROB, MARS, APRSWXNET/Citizen

Weather Observer Program (CWOP) and the Cooperative Observer Program (COOP)

which are of benefit to the marine community. If you would like to participate or

learn more about these volunteer programs, please call your local NWS office or

visit http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/voluntary.htm.

Volunteer Marine

Observation Programs
Dissemination Of Marine Dissemination Of Marine

Weather Pr ther Products

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. Details on the dissemination of NWS marine products may be found on

the Marine and Coastal Weather Services Home Page.

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.

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.”

NOAA broadcasts offshore forecasts, coastal waters

forecasts and marine warnings on 4125 kHz in Alaska.

The USCG broadcasts graphic weather maps and other

graphic images 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 marine

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 20 nm offshore.

USCG broadcasts offshore forecasts and marine

warnings on 2670 kHz following an initial call on

2182 kHz.

USCG voice broadcast of high seas warnings and

forecasts.

Also known as Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP)

is a text broadcast of high seas warnings and forecasts.

NAVTEX is a USCG radio teletype broadcast of

marine warnings and forecasts. Typical coverage is

200 nm offshore.

A satellite broadcast of Maritime Safety Information

that includes high seas weather.

A summary of Atlantic and Pacific high seas storm

information.

♦ NOAA Home Page: http://www.noaa.gov

♦ Marine and Coastal Weather Services Home Page:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/home.htm

♦ NWS Local Office Links: http://www.wrh.

noaa.gov/wrhq/nwspage.html

♦ NOS Home Page: http://www.nos.noaa.gov

♦ USCG Home Page: http://www.uscg.mil

♦ USCG Navigation Center:

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/

(Excellent description of marine communications)

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/dial.shtml.

NOAA Weather Radio

(NWR):

NOAA Telephone

Recordings

Alaska Marine

HF VOICE

USCG HF Radiofax

USCG VHF VOICE

USCG MF VOICE

USCG HF Voice

USCG HF NBDP

NAVTEX

INMARSAT-C SafetyNET

WWV and WWVH

(time tick)

Web Sites of Interest

DIAL-A-BUOY
Marine Weather Service Charts

ine Weather

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, locations of national marine sanctuaries,

and NWS telephone numbers. MSC charts can be purchased from:

FAA Distribution Division (AVN-530)

National Aeronautical Charting Office

Greenbelt, MD 20770-1479

Telephone: 301-436-8301, 800-638-8972

MSC charts can also be found 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.