About Marine Weather Warnings

Marine weather warnings are issued whenever strong winds, gales, storm force or hurricane force winds are expected. Marine wind warnings aim to provide around a 24-hour lead time and are normally renewed every six hours.

Introduction

These pages provide information on the Bureau's warnings services for the marine community. Information includes the types of warnings that are issued, when and where they are issued, and some examples.

Marine weather warnings

The initial warning attempts to provide around 24 hours lead-time and warnings are normally renewed every six hours.

• Coastal waters wind warnings | Sample
• Ocean wind warnings | Sample
• Warnings for storm tide and dangerous surf/large waves;
  See: Severe Weather Warnings

Definitions of wind strength used in coastal and high seas warnings

Wind warning	Wind range*
Strong wind	26 to 33 knots
Gale	34 to 47 knots
Storm force	48 to 63 knots
Hurricane force	64 knots or more

*Note: These wind speeds are 10-minute averages

Wind speed and wave heights

In the tropics, hurricane force winds are associated with severe tropical cyclones (Category 3 and above)

Wave heights can be influenced by the size and movement of the weather system, shallow waters and proximity to the coast.

*Please be aware wind gusts can be a further 40 per cent stronger than the average and maximum waves may be up to twice the height of forecast (average) wave heights.

Wind speed categories	Beaufort scale
Strong wind 26 to 33 knots Probable wave heights around 3 to 5 metres
Gale 34 to 47 knots Probable wave heights around 5 to 8 metres
Storm force 48 to 63 knots Probable wave heights around 8 to 11 metres
Hurricane force 64 knots or more Probable wave heights around 11 metres or more

Images courtesy Environment Canada

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