Good information concerning marine weather and possible trouble is available at your fingertips. Find out more about the National Weather Service and their products.
Weather is one area of significant importance to boaters. Weather conditions effect enjoyment of activities on the water and impact the safe operation of your vessel. The National Weather Service (NWS) provides an array of marine weather products readily available to any boater. A few are highlighted here and much more information is available at your local weather service office or through access to the internet.
Marine Warnings - NWS forecasts include information on marine weather warnings of interest to boaters. There are six notices that can be included in a marine weather forecast. Wind speed is measured in knots or nautical miles per hour. A nautical mile is one minute of latitude or just a little more than a statute mile (1NM = 1.15SM).
Marine Forecasts - A number of forecasts are prepared by the NWS to serve specific areas of the ocean. They are based on your distance from shore. These include coastal marine, offshore, and high seas forecasts. Reports are published to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and distributed through several other channels.
Distribution of NWS Weather Products - The Weather Service uses a number of resources to broadcast information concerning marine forecasts and warnings to boaters. These include:
Check out these resources available to all mariners. NWS products are provided for the free use of all boaters. Take advantage of these important contributions to boating safety and your tax dollars at work!