Public Information Statement
Statement as of 6:00 PM EDT on May 24, 2013
... The National Weather Service and neracoos continues to observe
may 18th through 24th as National safe boating week...
... Marine forecasts...
The following is a safe boating message from the National safe
boating Council the National Weather Service and neracoos, reminding
you that National safe boating week is may 18th through may 24th.
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 (usually
12 hours) 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 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 over 35 knots (40 mph), waterspouts
(tornadoes over water), and hail of three-quarter 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 and
check the latest ocean conditions at www.Neracoos.Org/realtime_map.
You can also receive specialized forecasts for Sebago Lake and Lake
Winnipesaukee at http://www.Erh.NOAA.Gov/gyx/lakeforecasts/
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 northeast regional ocean
observing system... neracoos... National Weather Service and the
National safe boating Council.
