Weather can mean the difference between life and death for boaters venturing out on coastal waters, whether in bays, near-shore, or far from land in the open ocean. Safe boating depends on knowing the latest weather forecast for the areas you plan to travel. Maritime traditions have a long history of myths, legends and natural signs for weather forecasting. Old salts that have spent most of their days at sea can use their long experience to forecast the weather with great accuracy, but for the rest of us, who live our daily lives away from the water and only go out for recreational boating, the best way to get weather information is through the marine weather reports.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has established a radio network that covers all United States coastal areas, including such territories as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NOAA weather radio forecasts are broadcast around the clock, in an automated series of repetitious reports, so that you can tune in to the NOAA weather radio station in your area and get the latest report any time of day. You cannot, however, receive these reports on a regular AM/FM radio such as the stereo in your car. You must have a special NOAA weather radio, (available for as little as $25) or you can tune in to the reports on any marine VHF radio, whether it is a handheld portable unit or a fixed mount station on board your boat. Since every boater operating in coastal waters needs a VHF radio anyway to communicate with other traffic and the U.S. Coast Guard, the VHF is the standard method for receiving marine weather reports.
To understand the information given in the report, it helps to be familiar with the geography of the broadcast region. If you are new to an area or passing through, your nautical charts will help you with this. In recent years the voice of the broadcast has been changed from a live human to a computer synthesized voice, and this voice sometimes mispronounces place names, especially if these names have an ethnic background. Having the chart of the area in front of you will help decipher the report. Since VHF radio reception is limited to a maximum of about 60 miles or so, any report you are able to tune in to will be pertinent to the area you are currently operating in.
The NOAA weather radio forecast is separated into separate segments in coastal areas. One is the general weather forecast that is applicable to folks living on land in the coastal region, one is the coastal marine forecast, including tide data. In addition, during hurricane season in areas that can be affected by these storms, there is the tropical weather outlook and special reports on named storms. There are also special hazardous weather warnings when such localized threats as flooding, lightning, or tornados are expected.
The general forecast part of the report is also of interest to mariners, as this part of the report tells you what to expect in terms of rain or sunshine, and daytime and nighttime temperatures. The coastal marine forecast is the most important, however, as this part of the forecast gives the wind strength in terms of knots. Current wind strength is reported as well as what is expected in the next 24-36 hours in the regions covered by the report. Sea conditions are also given, in terms of wave height and wave period. This information is measured by floating NOAA data buoys, and can provide critical information to boaters trying to decide whether to attempt a passage or to even go out at all. Wave height is obvious, and is given in terms of average height in feet, for example: “seas offshore currently running 6 to 8 feet.” Wave period is the amount of time between waves, and can tell mariners how steep the waves are, as a shorter period means the waves are more likely to be breaking and thus constitute a danger to vessels. If the wind speed given in the coastal marine forecast is above a certain threshold, usually 20 to 25 knots, a Small Craft Advisory is issued, meaning that all vessels under 65 feet in length should exercise caution. When wind speeds reach 33 knots, a gale warning is in effect.
Special warnings and reports such as the hazardous weather outlook and tropical weather report will provide mariners with specific information about what to expect and what action to take during times of such weather events.
The marine weather report is crucial to enjoyable and safe boating. Make it a practice to always get the latest report before launching your boat or untying your dock lines. If you live far away from the area you will be traveling to for your weekend or vacation boating, you can get the forecast for any region by visiting the NOAA website. With today’s weather forecasting technology, there’s simply no excuse to be caught offshore in an unexpected storm.
