04/12/23
Check the forecast on the Check the forecast on the New NWS Marine Web PortalNew NWS Marine Web Portal
John MetzNational Weather Service
Corpus Christi
Is it safe to go out?Is it safe to go out?
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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 Mariners are vulnerable to adverse weatheradverse 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.
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• 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 StatsCoast 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.
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Thunderstorms
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Threat of high Wind, Lightning, Heavy Rain, Hail, Waterspouts
LightningLightning
• On average 82 deaths per year directly due On average 82 deaths per year directly due to lightning strikes and 200 non fatal.to lightning strikes and 200 non fatal.
• Don’t be caught in an open cabined vessel!Don’t be caught in an open cabined vessel!
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Shelf Clouds
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Indicate approaching front, thunderstorms & wind shifts
Downburst Life CycleDownburst Life Cycle
Initial Stage - begins when downburst starts - begins when downburst starts to descend from the cloud base to descend from the cloud base
Impact Stage Impact Stage – time of the strongest surface – time of the strongest surface winds and greatest danger to aviationwinds and greatest danger to aviation
Downburst Life CycleDownburst Life Cycle
May also appear as a Rain foot
Downburst Life CycleDownburst Life Cycle
Downburst WindsDownburst Winds
Leading Edge of downburst
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Fast Approaching Danger!Fast Approaching Danger!
Fast Moving Shelf CloudFast Moving Shelf Cloud
Indicates an approaching wind shift with speeds >50kts
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WaterspoutsWaterspouts
Can produce wind speeds of 40 to 90 knots
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Dense Sea FogDense Sea Fog
Visibilities less than 2 nautical miles is dangerous
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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)
Non Convective
Predominant Wind conditions expected over open water
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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.
Convective
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Accessing Forecasts & Warnings?
• VHF Marine Radio Ch 16
• NOAA Weather Radio
• PDA’s & Cell
• Television
• Phone
• Internet
Websites
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1. www.weather.gov2. forecast.weather.gov/mwp3. www.hurricanes.gov
Websites
04/12/23
1. www.weather.gov2. forecast.weather.gov/mwp3. www.hurricanes.gov
Current Conditions
04/12/23 NDBC Buoys
Current Doppler Radar
04/12/23 NWS Doppler Radar Network
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Watch/Warning/Advisory Map
Gridded Significant Wave HeightsGridded Significant Wave Heights
Gridded Wind ForecastsGridded Wind Forecasts
Gridded Precipitation ChancesGridded Precipitation Chances
Gridded Precipitation ChancesGridded Precipitation Chances
High Seas Forecast
04/12/23 Tropical Prediction Center Miami, FL
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Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/
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Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/
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Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/
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Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/
04/12/23
Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/
04/12/23
Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/
04/12/23
Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/
04/12/23
Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/
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Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/
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Internet forecast.weather.gov/mwp/
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Internet www.srh.noaa.gov/crp
Watches Warnings and Watches Warnings and AdvisoriesAdvisories
Additional Background MapsAdditional Background MapsAnd Map Label OptionsAnd Map Label Options
• Defaults to HazardsDefaults to Hazards
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Internet www.srh.noaa.gov/crp
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Internet www.srh.noaa.gov/crp
Current ObservationsCurrent Observations
Tide Data where Tide Data where AvailableAvailable
Clickable Observation Clickable Observation Points Points
Click elementClick elementfor trendsfor trends
Link to Ob siteLink to Ob site
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Internet www.srh.noaa.gov/crp
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Internet www.srh.noaa.gov/crp
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Internet www.srh.noaa.gov/crp
Interactive Forecast MapInteractive Forecast Map
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Internet Marine Point and Click
Forecast at a GlanceForecast at a Glance
Nearby ObsNearby Obs
Radar and Satellite LinksRadar and Satellite Links
Full Point ForecastFull Point Forecast
Selected Point – Interactive MapSelected Point – Interactive Map
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Internet Marine Zone Forecast
SynopsisSynopsis
Nearby ObsNearby Obs
Radar and Satellite LinksRadar and Satellite Links
Full Full ZoneZone Forecast Forecast
Selected Zone – Interactive MapSelected Zone – Interactive Map
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Additional Useful Links
Zone Forecast LinkZone Forecast LinkForecast DiscussionForecast DiscussionTide LinkTide LinkHourly Weather Hourly Weather GraphGraph
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Hourly Weather Graph
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Additional Useful Links
Tabular ForecastTabular Forecast
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Tabular Forecast
Changes to Marine Page Coming Soon!
• New Google map on marine page
• Improvements in navigation– Mouse over for current obs– Removing forecast tab – all on one page
• Improvements to trend graphics
• New look - more intuitive
04/12/23
04/12/23
Knots to MPH
1 knot = 1.15 mph
So…– 15 knots = 17 mph– 20 knots = 23 mph– 34 knots = 39 mph