... Marine forecast...
The following is a safe boating message from the National safe
boating Council and National Weather Service.
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.
Take particular note of any current advisories and
warnings... including 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 35
knots... waterspouts... and hail of 3 quarters of an 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 W W W dot weather dot gov slash 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.
This message was brought to you by the National Weather Service and
the National safe boating Council. Visit the National Weather
Service on the web at W W W dot weather dot gov and the National
safe boating Council at W W W dot safe boating Council dot Org.
