Pete Hanson Pete Version 11/05 Version Including (800) 472-0391 the Inside Passage, www.arh.noaa.gov GUIDE Gulf of Alaska Gulf of Coastal Waters the Kodiak Island Waters the Kodiak Island Prince William Sound and William Prince WEATHER MARINER’S imply the presence of imply a hurricane, not SAFE BOATING
Before Setting Out: 1. and sea conditions. Check local weather 2. area. forecast for your Get the latest marine weather 3. When warnings are in effect, do not go out unless safely boat can be navigated are confident your you under forecast conditions. After Setting Out: 1. for: the weather Watch - the approach of dark, threatening clouds which foretell a squall or thunderstorm. may - increase in wind or sea a steady - any increase in wind opposite direction to a 2. Radio broadcasts for the latest Weather Check NOAA lead to steep waves. strong tidal current, which may forecast. weather 3. and observations. forecasts, warnings, in the close attention to updates or changes Pay marine Small Craft Advisory: Small Craft Advisory: Due to Seas: Small Craft Advisory Locally Determined Gale Warning: Storm Warning: Wind Warning*: Hurricane Force Warning: Freezing Spray Heavy 64 knots or higher 23 - 33 knots 0.3” or more ice 34-47 knots 48 - 63 knots hour per accumulation MARINE ADVISORY AND WARNING CRITERIA AND WARNING MARINE ADVISORY Hurricane Force Wind Warning does Warning Wind Hurricane Force * refers to winds 64 knots or higher. but only Special Marine Warning: A warning of of conditions usually hazardous weather potentially short duration (up to 2 hours) producing sustained marine thunderstorm winds or associated gusts of 34 knots or greater; and/or hail 3/4 inch or more in diameter; Forecast. affecting areas included in a Coastal Waters waterspouts Warning/Watch: Tsunami and by an earthquake, generated which were waves Issued for long period water time to the warning area. A when issued as a warning are less than 2 hours travel time to the area. are more than 2 hours travel is issued when waves watch
N MARINE FORECAST CONTENT are mentioned when they are expected to be much higher than to be much are mentioned when they expected The following information is provided in all Coastal Waters and in all Coastal Waters information is provided The following Offshore Forecasts: Synopsis Located at the beginning of the marine forecast, it describes location and intensity of It systems which will affect Alaskan waters. the weather will be during the forecast period. indicates what their movements Wind Speed in knots. given open water, over The predominant wind speed expected Gusts Due to the rugged coastline of winds. the average Alaska, considerable from the forecast winds are possible. local variations Wind Direction Direction is based on The direction from which the wind is blowing. true north, not magnetic bearings. Sea State height of The average the highest one-third of and swell the wind wave by the local generated are waves waves in feet. Wind in the area, given formed from a distant storm. are long waves wind, and swell and Visibility Weather and fog are included, freezing spray, showers, for rain, snow, Forecasts by visibility iffollowed 1 nm. to be below it is expected and Advisories Warnings for at least the first 24 hours valid Headlines for warnings and advisories of the forecast are included at top. MAP LEGEND
Weather Buoys Observation Sites NOAA Weather Radio Transmitters Coast Guard High Sites __ Forecast Area Boundary
Map not to be used for navigational purposes. N
MARINE WEATHER REPORTING PROGRAM TO OBTAIN INFORMATION NOAA WEATHER RADIO The National Weather Service has established a nationwide Mariner National Weather Service Offi ces Report Program, or MAREP, to help improve marine forecasts and Annette 886-3241 Continuous weather broadcasts are available warnings. Through this cooperative effort, mariners make radio Juneau 790-6800 reports of sea and wind conditions to NWS forecasters. Marine from the National Weather Service and the U.S. DIAL-A-BUOY Kodiak 487-4338 Coast Guard. The Coast Guard communications observations can be reported via HF/SSB, VHF, cell phone, E-mail, or Valdez 835-4505 satellite to the NWS. “high sites” are being used to relay NOAA This service provides wind and wave measurements taken Yakutat 784-3322 Weather Radio broadcasts across coastal Alaska, within the last hour at stations located in coastal waters around If you would like to learn more about this program, please contact your through the Weather Blanket partnership. the United States. local weather offi ce or the Port Meteorological Offi cer in Anchorage Recorded Marine Forecasts To access Dial-A-Buoy, dial (228) 688-1948, or visit this web at (907) 271-5135. Cordova 424-3333 Weather information may be found on seven VHF Juneau 586-3997 site: www.ndbc.noaa.gov. Use the station identifi er to request high-band FM frequencies between 162.400 and the observation. Detailed marine weather information is avail- VOICE WEATHER BROADCASTS AND Sitka 747-6011 162.550 megahertz; weather channels 1 through able including temperature, wind direction and speed, wave MARINE OBSERVATION REPORTING Wrangell 874-3232 7. See the map for transmitter locations. height, swell, wave period, and steepness. Voice weather broadcasts are provided on the upper sideband Yakutat 784-3654 (USB) 4125 khz from the following stations and times: INTERNET Alaska Weather Line Annette KGD58 0700 and 1540 Recorded Weather Statewide Menu FORECAST ISSUANCE TIMES 0400 hours and 1600 hours NWS Juneau www.pajk.arh.noaa.gov Kodiak KWL38 0800 and 1800 Within Alaska 800-472-0391 NWS Anchorage www.pafc.arh.noaa.gov Yakutat KDG91 0515 and 1930 Daylight (ADT) and Standard (AST) time In Anchorage 266-5145 Marine warnings and amendments NWS Alaska Region www.arh.noaa.gov Environment Canada www.weatheroffi ce.com In Juneau 790-6850 are issued as required. Stations also moniter Channel 16 to receive observations. National Data Buoy Center www.ndbc.noaa.gov