National Weather Service Marine Web Portal

Check the forecast on the New NWS Marine Web Portal John Metz National Weather Service Corpus Christi 10/20/09 Is it safe to go out?

The Organization The Commerce Department NOAA NWS

National Weather Service 122 Weather Forecast Offices 13 River Forecast Centers

National Weather Service Aviation Center Storm Prediction Hurricane Center NASA Weather Modeling Centers Climate Prediction National Archive Space Weather National Centers Tsunami Center

Marine Forecast Offices

47 Coastal Weather Forecast Offices

WFO Corpus Christi Responsible for 15 counties and the Gulf of Mexico out 60 nm

National Weather Service Mission :

Local Staff

Meteorologist in Charge

Assistant System Administrator

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

Science and Operations Officer

Information Technology Officer

5 Senior Forecasters

5 Journeyman Forecasters

3 Hydro Meteorological Technicians

1 Meteorologist Intern

3 Electronics Technicians

NWS Responsibilities

Collect Weather Data

7 Day Public Forecasts

5 Day Marine Forecasts

Severe Weather Watches & Warnings

Hurricane Watches & Warnings

Aviation Forecasts

River Flood Forecasts

Fire Weather Forecasts

Climate Reports

Mariners are vulnerable to adverse weather

Strong winds cause rough seas & bays which are dangerous to small craft.

Wind shifts from storms & fronts can turn calm waters into turmoil in minutes.

10/20/09 L

Safe harbor can be miles away. This combined with slow moving vessels, sand bars and reefs mean that safe harbor is an hour or more away.

Coast Guard Stats

On average >6000 marine accidents annually.

4000 injuries per year

700 fatalities per year

20% of fatalities directly caused by hazardous waters or weather.

10/20/09

Thunderstorms 10/20/09 Threat of high Wind, Lightning, Heavy Rain, Hail, Waterspouts

Lightning

On average 82 deaths per year directly due to lightning strikes and 200 non fatal.

Don’t be caught in an open cabined vessel!

10/20/09

Shelf Clouds 10/20/09 Indicate approaching front, thunderstorms & wind shifts

Downburst Life Cycle Initial Stage - begins when downburst starts to descend from the cloud base

Impact Stage – time of the strongest surface winds and greatest danger to aviation Downburst Life Cycle

May also appear as a Rain foot Downburst Life Cycle

Downburst Winds Leading Edge of downburst

10/20/09 Fast Approaching Danger!

Fast Moving Shelf Cloud Indicates an approaching wind shift with speeds >50kts

10/20/09 Waterspouts Can produce wind speeds of 40 to 90 knots

10/20/09 Dense Sea Fog Visibilities less than 2 nautical miles is dangerous

Advisories and Warnings

SCEC - Small Craft Should Exercise Caution (Winds 15-20kts)

SCA - Small Craft Advisory (Wind > 20kts for 2 hrs and/or seas > 7 feet)

Gale - Gale Warning (Wind > 34 Knots)

10/20/09 Non Convective Predominant Wind conditions expected over open water

Marine Statements & Warnings

Marine Weather Statements

Strong cold fronts, Thunderstorms with ~30 knot winds, small hail or unusually heavy rainfall or excessive lightning, Sea Fog.

Special Marine Warnings

Thunderstorms with winds > 34 knots, 3/4 inch hail or waterspouts.

10/20/09 Convective

Accessing Forecasts & Warnings?

VHF Marine Radio Ch 16

NOAA Weather Radio

PDA’s & Cell

Television

Phone

Internet

10/20/09

Websites

10/20/09

www.weather.gov

forecast.weather.gov/mwp

www.hurricanes.gov

Websites

10/20/09

www.weather.gov

forecast.weather.gov/mwp

www.hurricanes.gov

Current Conditions 10/20/09 NDBC Buoys

Current Doppler Radar 10/20/09 NWS Doppler Radar Network

10/20/09 Watch/Warning/Advisory Map

Gridded Significant Wave Heights

Gridded Wind Forecasts

Gridded Precipitation Chances

High Seas Forecast 10/20/09 Tropical Prediction Center Miami, FL

10/20/09 Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/

Internet 10/20/09 www.srh.noaa.gov/crp Watches Warnings and Advisories

Additional Background Maps

And Map Label Options

Defaults to Hazards

Internet 10/20/09 www.srh.noaa.gov/crp

Internet 10/20/09 www.srh.noaa.gov/crp Current Observations Tide Data where Available Clickable Observation Points Click element for trends Link to Ob site

Internet 10/20/09 www.srh.noaa.gov/crp

Internet 10/20/09 www.srh.noaa.gov/crp Interactive Forecast Map

Internet 10/20/09 Marine Point and Click Forecast at a Glance Nearby Obs Radar and Satellite Links Full Point Forecast Selected Point – Interactive Map

Internet 10/20/09 Marine Zone Forecast Synopsis Nearby Obs Radar and Satellite Links Full Zone Forecast Selected Zone – Interactive Map

Additional Useful Links 10/20/09 Zone Forecast Link Forecast Discussion Tide Link Hourly Weather Graph

Hourly Weather Graph 10/20/09

Additional Useful Links 10/20/09 Tabular Forecast

Tabular Forecast 10/20/09

Changes to Marine Page Coming Soon!