Marine Zone Forecast (2024)

FAQs

What is the best website for boating weather? ›

The National Weather Service (NWS) Marine Weather Services Program offers a broad range of marine forecast and warning products in graphical and text (low bandwidth) formats (See Tabs above).

Marine Forecasts. Today - South winds around 5 knots, becoming southwest late. Bay and inland waters light chop. Isolated showers and Thunderstorms late this morning.

Before any boating trip, you should check the short-term and long-term local weather forecast as reported on the radio, TV or Internet. You should always factor these weather forecasts into your preparations as you make your trip plan.

Marine weather refers to the atmospheric and wave conditions at sea. Like onshore weather forecasts, marine weather will cover wind.

NOAA Weather Radar: NOAA Weather Radar provides reliable weather forecasts and radar imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It offers customizable alerts and severe weather warnings to keep boaters informed of changing conditions.

19.69′

Safety Harbor / Elevation

Light SW winds with a slight chop. Small short period waves. Winds: SW 9 to 10 knots. Seas: SSE 4 feet at 8 seconds.

SW winds 5 to 10 kt, increasing to 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft, occasionally to 5 ft. Wave Detail: S 3 ft at 7 seconds. Chance of showers and slight chance of tstms in the morning, then showers likely with chance of tstms in the afternoon.

Sustained winds of 22 - 33 knots (Beaufort Scale 6 - 7) capable of driving seas of 10 - 18 feet. At Beaufort Scale 6, larger waves form. Spray is present with white foam crests everywhere. At Beaufort Scale 7, even larger waves form, but seas begin to heap up.

What is too windy for boating? ›

Generally, wind gusts of 34 knots (39 mph) or more are often strong enough to capsize small boats, especially when they catch the boater off-guard.

Chop is the cresting of waves created by the wind. You might also describe what you're seeing out on the water when it's choppy as being lumpy, bumpy or messy with the water surface moving up and down and side to side.

The dominant wave period (in seconds) is a wave period associated with highest energetic waves at a specific point or area in the total wave spectrum and is always either the swell period or the wind- wave period. Dominant wave period is also known as the “peak” period.

One of the first scales to estimate wind speeds and the effects was created by Britain's Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857). He developed the scale in 1805 to help sailors estimate the winds via visual observations. The scale starts with 0 and goes to a force of 12.

Local weather service offices also issue a short term forecast that covers a period up to six hours so boaters can plan their days on the water. The NOAA Weather Radio is the best way to receive immediate warnings and other weather forecast information from the local National Weather Service office.

Windy.com: A weather app with hyperlocal forecasts, including wind speed and direction, catering to boaters and outdoor enthusiasts. Ventusky: Another weather app offering detailed weather maps and visualizations, useful for marine and outdoor activities planning.

NOAA National Hurricane Center

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is the trusted source for hurricane information.

Weather & Tides

Navionics Boating is by your side rain or shine to provide detailed forecasts that can help you make informed decisions on the water.