National Weather Service Marine Web Portal

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

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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/

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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/

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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

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The End…

Lets Go Boat’n!

Questions?

www.weather.gov/corpuschristi

john.metz@noaa.gov

04/12/23

Knots to MPH

1 knot = 1.15 mph

So…– 15 knots = 17 mph– 20 knots = 23 mph– 34 knots = 39 mph