NorCal Kayak Anglers

Kayak Fishing Zone => Safety First => Topic started by: scottymeboy on June 28, 2017, 10:18:15 AM

Title: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: scottymeboy on June 28, 2017, 10:18:15 AM
Got a question for you old watermen out there?
What   Does the swell and wind have to be to issue a small craft warning?
This weekend looks pretty snotty  so I won't be hitting the salt(8ft-15+ winds).
Just courious?

Scotty


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Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: E Kayaker on June 28, 2017, 10:48:17 AM
I thought small craft warning was a wind warning.
Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: NowhereMan on June 28, 2017, 06:57:01 PM
I'm curious about this too. According to Wikipedia:

"A small craft advisory is a type of warning issued by the National Weather Service in the United States. It is issued when winds have reached, or are expected to reach within 12 hours, a speed marginally less than gale force."


But, it seems to me that it's not consistently applied, as sometimes there's a small craft advisory and conditions don't look bad (and, in fact, are actually very good), and sometimes just the opposite.
Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: scottymeboy on June 29, 2017, 10:13:41 AM
None of you " smart guys"
have  an answer?


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Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: solsrf1 on June 29, 2017, 10:30:50 AM
Small craft advisory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Small craft advisory pennant
A small craft advisory is a type of warning issued by the National Weather Service in the United States. It is issued when winds have reached, or are expected to reach within 12 hours, a speed marginally less than gale force. A Small Craft Advisory may also be issued when sea or lake ice exists that could be hazardous to small boats.[1]

The insignia that denotes a small craft advisory is one red, triangular flag (two such flags, one placed above the other, signify a gale warning).

The term wind advisory is used in place of small craft advisory when winds of the same force occur at, or are forecast for, inland locations. A lake wind advisory is issued for winds just below this range, because unobstructed winds across the open waters of a lake are normally faster than across land.

The wind speed that triggers the advisory has changed over time. Until the late 1960s, the threshold was 32 to 38 miles per hour (or 28 to 33 knots). At some point, the lower limit was reduced to 23 miles per hour (20 knots). Today, however, most places have standardized on 25 to 38 miles per hour (22 to 33 knots), encompassing the combined ranges of forces 6 and 7 on the Beaufort scale.

Occasionally an informal lesser advisory, known as "small craft exercise caution", is issued for wind speeds lighter than those that call for a small craft advisory. Criteria for this vary in different localities; sometimes a range of 19 to 24 miles per hour (17 to 21 knots) is observed, or in some places 17 to 23 miles per hour (15 to 19 knots) may be used.

The National Weather Service does not specifically identify what constitutes a "small craft". The size of the boat is only part of what a person should consider when venturing out under such a warning. Weight, displacement and hull design are also important factors and an even more important consideration is not only the craft, but the experience of the captain. 
Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: E Kayaker on June 29, 2017, 10:34:42 AM
None of you " smart guys"
have  an answer?


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Well he beat me to it. But remember, google is your friend.  :smt044
Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: scottymeboy on June 29, 2017, 12:12:33 PM
Thats a Great answer solsfr1!

Thanks!!!


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Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: crash on June 29, 2017, 12:26:43 PM
None of you " smart guys"
have  an answer?


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What did the NOAA/NWS office that issues the forecast for the area that you are wanting to know about say when you called them and asked them?
Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: Cabeza de Martillo on June 29, 2017, 02:12:11 PM
None of you " smart guys"
have  an answer?


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From Cabezapedia, the free encyclopedia

Lick your finger and stick it in the air. If the wind is blowing in your direction and your finger stinks.  :smt078 It's time to brush, floss and schedule a cleaning with your dentist.


If the wind blows in the opposite direction then go fishing  :smt001
Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: scottymeboy on June 29, 2017, 02:28:16 PM
None of you " smart guys"
have  an answer?


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What did the NOAA/NWS office that issues the forecast for the area that you are wanting to know about say when you called them and asked them?
Never went that route, but should put that on my " to do" list for tomorrow.


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Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: scottymeboy on June 29, 2017, 02:29:54 PM
None of you " smart guys"
have  an answer?


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From Cabezapedia, the free encyclopedia

Lick your finger and stick it in the air. If the wind is blowing in your direction and your finger stinks.  :smt078 It's time to brush, floss and schedule a cleaning with your dentist.


If the wind blows in the opposite direction then go fishing  :smt001

Now thats the "smartest "answer  so far!
LOL!!!


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Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: scottymeboy on June 30, 2017, 12:23:25 PM



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[/quote]

What did the NOAA/NWS office that issues the forecast for the area that you are wanting to know about say when you called them and asked them?
[/quote]
Here's what I found out when I called  the NOAA office in Eureka..

In simple terms, for wind , when it blows over 21 knots(24 mph), and swell,
over 10 ft, but
Small craft advisory can be triggered when swell is 6ft @7 sec, 7ft@ 8 sec,8ft@ 9 sec.
Always learning!


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Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: Tinker on June 30, 2017, 12:40:11 PM
And sometimes a small craft advisory is not for nearshore, but from 5km and out.
Title: Re: Small Craft Warning???
Post by: crash on June 30, 2017, 03:13:35 PM



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What did the NOAA/NWS office that issues the forecast for the area that you are wanting to know about say when you called them and asked them?
[/quote]
Here's what I found out when I called  the NOAA office in Eureka..

In simple terms, for wind , when it blows over 21 knots(24 mph), and swell,
over 10 ft, but
Small craft advisory can be triggered when swell is 6ft @7 sec, 7ft@ 8 sec,8ft@ 9 sec.
Always learning!


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[/quote]

You should follow the NWS Eureka Facebook page. They are great at educating and informing the public. They put out a forecast discussion on their website twice a day around 4am and 4pm and it is thorough and I trust it.