The National Weather Service (NWS) is planning to implement a new Marine Weather Warning (MWW) Bulletin in fall 2008. The MWW is intended to better inform mariners of adverse marine weather hazards and serve as a dedicated long duration marine watch, warning and advisory product.

Currently, coastal and Great Lakes NWS Weather Forecast Offices issue marine warnings and advisories through headlines contained in the Coastal Waters Forecast (CWF), the Nearshore Marine Forecast (NSH) and the Great Lakes Open Lake forecast (GLF). The CWF and NSH contain the operational Valid Time Event Code (VTEC). The MWW will contain the VTEC, obviating the need for VTEC in the CWF and NSH.

This paper will describe how the MWW bulletin will provide the marine community with more specific and vital marine hazard information regarding dangerous marine weather events like hurricane force wind events, heavy freezing spray, hazardous seas, storm force and gale force wind events. In addition, a full description of the AWIPS application program and product will be presented.