Wave Goodbye to Old Marine Forecasts and Make Waves at the Beach

Weather is a fact of life for most and especially for those planning a trip to the beach or out on the water. Having access to weather forecasts that are easy to read and understand can make that trip more productive in terms of time spent outdoors and safe from life-threatening hazards in and near the water. The National Weather Service’s (NWS) Marine and Coastal Weather Services Program is working on new and enhanced marine products and services, with the goal of providing widely accessible, simple and easy to understand forecasts for people at the beach or on the water. The Marine Program is adding more precision and detail to forecasts, particularly regarding wave characteristics, as well as enhanced probabilistic weather information on or near the beach. Other efforts include prototyping new graphical information and forecast displays, as well as easy-to-read forecast matrix and tabular outputs. These new formats allow for a quick understanding of the weather elements users are most interested in, because they are easier to find in new mobile friendly formats. This will help beachgoers and boaters to know and understand the weather that will impact them.

To improve beach safety messaging, the NWS Marine Program, in collaboration with NOAA Studio, created a new suite of high-quality and informative beach safety videos. These videos highlight the dangers of various types of rip current risks along the Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico coasts. These videos are an excellent resource for those who are new to the Great Lakes and Gulf beaches, with information about the various types of hazardous currents at even places most may not think about, like around the sides of piers. The videos help users understand and prepare for these risks well before arriving at the beach or on the boat so they can focus on fun and staying safe.