this week will highlight relevant weather... and safety specific
public service announcements... for the recreational boating public.
Todays topic is marine forecasts.
Understanding a marine forecast is critical to safe boating. Weather
and wave conditions can change suddenly... catching boaters off guard
and creating life threatening conditions.
Typical marine forecasts predict wind speed and direction... wave
heights and periods... roughness of near shore waters... and
significant weather. Marine forecasts cover large areas and the
forecast elements are often given in ranges. The significant weather
may not occur over the entire area or during the entire forecast
period. The ranges represent average conditions over a period of
time and the actual conditions may be lower or higher than the
forecast range. Boaters should plan for conditions above and below
the predicted ranges.
Take particular note of any small craft advisories... gale or storm
warnings which alert mariners to either high winds or waves
occurring now or forecast to occur up to 24 hours from now. Special
marine warnings are issued for sudden increase in winds to over 35
knots... waterspouts... and hail of 3/4 inches or greater and indicate
a more immediate threat. Marine weather statements bring attention
to significant rapidly changing conditions on the water including
increase in winds... non severe thunderstorms... development of dense
fog and even snow squalls or strong and gusty rain showers.
You should have a marine vhf transceiver with built-in NOAA Weather
Radio channels. If you venture beyond about a 25 nautical mile range
from shore... you should consider buying a good quality hf single
sideband transceiver and satellite phone.
Before setting out... obtain the latest marine forecast and warning
information from www.Weather.Gov/marine or NOAA Weather Radio.
Several days ahead of time you can begin listening for extended
outlooks which give general information out to the next five days in
both graphical and text format.
To learn more... visit the National safe boating Council online at
www.Safeboatingcouncil.Org.
Visit the National Weather Service Wilmington at
www.Weather.Gov/ilm.
