From March 2023, NOAA’s National Weather Service is changing a number of offshore Marine Forecast and Weather Warning Zones which will affect some coastal areas of Mexico, the USA, Puerto Rico, Alaska and American Samoa.

Published 1 year ago

The changes were being made because many weather zones were currently too large to adequately account for the complexity of marine weather that occurs in these areas said NOAA’s National Weather Service.

“Therefore NOAA has created new zones to improve the accuracy and precision of forecast and warning products in the marine weather program.”

The changes affect the following areas:

Eastern Pacific – Southern Mexico

The Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) will change the offshore zones in the eastern Pacific off southern Mexico encompassing the offshore waters of the Mexican states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Jalisco, and Colima, as well as the waters off Baja California Sur and the Revillagigedo Islands.

Notice of changes to Eastern Pacific Offshore Zones

Gulf of Mexico – Louisiana

The NWS Weather Forecast Office in Lake Charles, LA is making changes to Marine Forecast Zones encompassing Vermilion, West Cote Blanche Bay, East Cote Blanche Bay, and Atchafalaya Bay.

Notice of changes to Marine Zones for Lake Charles

Puerto Rico – San Juan

The NWS Weather Forecast Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico is changing the Marine Forecast and Warning Zones for the waters offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Changes to Marine Forecast Zones for Puerto Rico

USA East Coast  – Baltimore/Washington

The NWS Baltimore/ Washington Weather Forecast Office in Sterling, VA will add marine areas of Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island to encompass. significant portions of the North East, Elk, Bohemia, and Sassafras. Rivers.

Changes to Public, Fire and Marine Forecast Zones for Baltimore/Washington DC

Pago Pago – American Samoa

The NWS Weather Service Office in Pago Pago, American Samoa (PPG) is changing Marine Forecast Zones on Tutuila and Aunuu, Manu’a, Swains Island and Rose Island.

Changes to Public, Fire and Marine Forecast Zones for Pago Pago, American Samoa

Alaska

NWS Weather Forecast Offices in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau in Alaska are implementing comprehensive. changes to coastal and offshore Marine Forecast Zones.

Marine Forecast Zone Changes for Fairbanks

Marine Forecast Zone Changes for Anchorage

Marine Forecast Zone Changes for Juneau

Changes could affect services

Commodore Joan Connover, President of the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) said the changes could impact services which might be using automated systems using the file name or the zone area such as PredictWind, MWXC and SailDocs.

“Any sailors who download weather files based on the name of the zone should note that the file names may change and the regions covered will be modified,” Joan told Noonsite.

To find out more about these upcoming changes click on the following National Weather Service link:

https://www.weather.gov/marine/2023zonechanges

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Related Links:

• National Weather Service
  
• Seven Seas Cruising Association
  

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