Marine Forecast Offices & Centers provide links to their products as well as additional regionally focused information. Click on map for links.

Did you know that the height of some individual waves may be twice the height of the forecast seas? And may present an even greater danger near shore?

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARINE PRODUCTS VIA U.S. COAST GUARD HF VOICE

Also see COMMERCIAL MARITIME COAST STATIONS and WEATHER NETS

The U.S. Coast Guard broadcasts National Weather Service highseas forecasts and storm warnings from six high seas communication stations. These broadcasts are prepared cooperatively by the Ocean Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center and Honolulu Forecast Office. Offshore and coastal forecasts are available in areas such as Alaska. See table below for station locations and schedules. Transmission range is dependent upon operating frequency, time of day and atmospheric conditions and can vary from only short distances to several thousand miles. Best reception can be achieved by proper selection of frequency and an adequate antenna system.

USCG to continue HF weather broadcasts via radiofax, voice, and SITOR

Effective April 3, 2012, the National Hurricane Center will reconfigure its marine zones for the offshore waters in the Caribbean and SW North Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico. The existing nine (9) zones will be reconfigured into thirty-two (32) zones. This greater number of zones will result in a number of improved products and services. Then, in order to better meet the time constraints for voice broadcast via the U.S. Coast Guard from the USCG Communications Stations in New Orleans and Chesapeake, VA, and USCG Sector stations, two new products will be broadcast in lieu of the current Offshore Waters Forecasts for the SW North Atlantic and Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, These products will combine forecasts for the 32 zones in such a way that they will be similar to the Offshore Waters Forecasts before reconfiguration. Click HERE for further information.

Effective Jan 01, 2005 U.S. Coast Guard long range communications stations NMF, NMN, NMA, NMG, NMC, NMO, NOJ and NRV changed their single sideband voice radio guard to the following simplex frequencies: 4125, 6215, 8291, and 12290 kHz. These frequencies are intended for initial voice contact and distress alerts and working only. Follow-on working frequencies if necessary shall be by mutual agreement after initial contact. Previously the ship/shore guard duplex frequencies of 4134/4426, 6200/6501, 8240/8764, 12242/13089, and 16432/17314 kHz were routinely shared with the broadcasts of maritime safety information, including weather. These duplex frequency pairs may still be used, however, for traffic handling purposes after initial contact is established on the distress and initial contact frequencies. For further information including monitoring schedules and frequency details, see http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=cgcommsCall

U.S. Coast Guard HF voice broadcasts are performed in the upper sideband mode using a synthesized voice known as "Iron Mike" ("Perfect Paul" retired in April 07). This voice is very distinctive and serves as in aid in identifying and copying these weather broadcasts. Click here to listen to a typical USCG HF voice broadcast by "Iron Mike".

Visit the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Telecommunications Information webpage for further information on U.S. Coast Guard telecommunications.

A Listing of NWS Marine Products Broadcast via U.S. Coast Guard HF Voice   is available.

For a complete listing of NWS marine text products (with links) visit the Marine Text Forecasts And Products Listing webpage.

Refer to NGA Publication 117, which is updated through the Notice to Mariners, for the latest official listing of U.S. Coast Guard broadcast schedules. The British Admiralty List of Radio Signals , is an excellent reference source for weather broadcast information.

All NWS marine forecasts rely heavily on the Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) program for obtaining meteorological observations.
 

Chesapeake(NMN) HF Voice Broadcast Schedule
4426, 6501, 8764 kHz (USB)	0330Z1	0515Z2	0930Z1
6501, 8764, 13089 kHz (USB)			1115Z2	1530Z1	2130Z1	2315Z2
8764, 13089, 17314 kHz (USB)				1715Z2
1 Offshore Forecasts, hurricane information 2 Highseas Forecast, hurricane information Broadcast of hurricane and other weather broadcasts from this station may on occasion be preempted, as the frequencies are shared with other USCG stations.

   

New Orleans(NMG) HF Voice Broadcast Schedule
4316, 8502, 12788 kHz (USB)	0330Z1	0515Z2	0930Z1	1115Z2	1530Z1	1715Z2	2130Z1	2315Z2
1 Offshore Forecasts, hurricane information 2 Highseas Forecast, hurricane information Broadcast of hurricane and other weather broadcasts from this station may on occasion be preempted, as the transmitters are shared with the radiofax broadcast.

   

Pt. Reyes(NMC) HF Voice Broadcast Schedule
4426, 8764, 13089 kHz (USB)	0430Z	1030Z
8764, 13089, 17314 kHz (USB)			1630Z	2230Z
Broadcast of hurricane and other weather broadcasts from this station may on occasion be preempted, as the frequencies are shared with other USCG stations, and the transmitters are shared with the radiofax broadcast.

   

Kodiak(NOJ) HF Voice Broadcast Schedule
6501 kHz (USB)	0203Z		1645Z

 
 

Honolulu(NMO) HF Voice Broadcast Schedule
6501, 8764 kHz (USB)		0600Z	1200Z
8764, 13089 kHz (USB)	0005Z			1800Z

   

Guam(NRV) HF Voice Broadcast Schedule
6501 kHz (USB)		0930Z	1530Z
13089 kHz (USB)	0330Z			2130Z

   

HF voice broadcasts may be terminated if longer than the available broadcast period. This will most likely occur during the hurricane season when supplementary advisories are broadcast in addition to the routine forecasts.

Carrier frequencies shown.  HF voice broadcasts use a synthesized voice "Iron Mike".

ITU channel numbers as follows:
4426(#424), 6501(#601), 8764(#816), 13089(#1205), 17314(#1625)

Note that stations share common frequencies.