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 63 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 ON THE INTERNET AT
WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV
