PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
300 PM CST WED FEB 27 2008

...WEATHER SAFETY FOR MARINERS...

AS THE SUN RISES HIGH IN THE SKY...THE TROPICAL WATERS AND THE ATMOSPHERE BECOME ACTIVE BY ABSORBING MORE HEAT 
ENERGY. THIS STARTS THE RECIPE FOR THUNDERSTORM AND HURRICANE PRODUCTION. KNOWING WHAT SIGNS TO LOOK FOR AND 
WHERE TO FIND MARINE WEATHER ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS COULD MAKE YOUR TIME SPENT ON THE WATER MUCH MORE 
ENJOYABLE.
 
WHEN SPRING AND SUMMER COMES AROUND...OUTSIDE BOATING AND FISHING ACTIVITIES INCREASE. THE FREQUENCY OF 
THUNDERSTORMS AND TROPICAL CYCLONES INCREASE AS WELL. BOATERS ARE CAUGHT OFF GUARD TOO FREQUENTLY WHEN STORMS 
ROLL OVER THE HORIZON. USUALLY WHEN YOU OBSERVE DARK FAST MOVING CLOUDS HEADED YOUR WAY...IT IS TOO LATE TO 
HEAD FOR A SAFE LOCATION IF YOU ARE ON THE OPEN WATER. HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE LARGER WEATHER PICTURE AND 
KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT TO DO WHEN THESE SUDDEN STORMS APPEAR COULD HELP YOU ENJOY A SAFER AND MORE PLEASANT 
JOURNEY.
 
FORTUNATELY...BOATS EQUIPPED WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIOS WILL BE ABLE TO TUNE INTO THE SPECIAL MARINE WARNINGS 
AND MARINE WEATHER STATEMENTS BEING ISSUED BY THE LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. THESE STATEMENTS WILL 
GIVE YOU INSTRUCTIONS ON WHERE THE STORMS ARE HEADING AND HOW SEVERE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE. IF YOUR VESSEL 
IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIOS...GET MARINE WEATHER INFORMATION FROM YOUR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA AND 
TRUSTED WEB SITES ON THE INTERNET. 

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE TYPE OF STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR 
FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: 

* SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY: TO ALERT BOATERS OF OBSERVED OR FORECAST SUSTAINED WINDS OF 20 TO 33 KNOTS AND OR 
  SEAS 7 FEET OR HIGHER. 
  
* GALE WARNING: FORECAST WINDS OF 34 TO 47 KNOTS. 

* STORM WARNING: FORECAST WINDS OF 48 KNOTS OR GREATER NOT ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL ACTIVITY. 

* TROPICAL STORM WATCH: TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WITH SUSTAINED WINDS FROM 34 TO 73 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE IN 
  THE WATCH AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 36 HOURS.             

* TROPICAL STORM WARNING: TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

* HURRICANE WATCH: HURRICANE CONDITIONS (SUSTAINED WINDS GREATER THAN 64 KNOTS) ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA 
  WITHIN 36 HOURS.

* HURRICANE WARNING: HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA IN 24 HOURS OR LESS.

* SPECIAL MARINE WARNING: ISSUED WHENEVER A SEVERE LOCAL STORM OR STRONG WIND OF BRIEF DURATION IS IMMINENT 
  AND IS NOT COVERED BY EXISTING WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES. 

* MARINE WEATHER STATEMENTS: ISSUED AS A FOLLOW UP TO A SPECIAL MARINE WARNING OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON 
  NON-SEVERE INFORMATION SUCH AS FOG.   
  
BOATERS WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THESE STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS BY KEEPING TUNED TO A NOAA WEATHER STATION OR TO 
COAST GUARD AND COMMERCIAL RADIO STATIONS THAT TRANSMIT MARINE WEATHER INFORMATION. 

KNOWING THE LARGER WEATHER PICTURE BEFORE VENTURING OUT INTO THE OPEN WATERS COULD SAVE NOT ONLY AGGRAVATION...
BUT YOUR LIFE AS WELL. GET TO KNOW THE MARINE WEATHER SERVICES PROVIDED TO YOU IN YOUR AREA AND CHART A COURSE 
TOWARD BOATING SAFETY. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WEATHER SAFETY FOR MARINERS...CALL YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE OR VISIT 
THEM AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV ON THE INTERNET.