This is issued by the
National Weather Service to alert small boats to sustained (more than 2 hours)
hazardous weather or
sea conditions. These conditions may be either present or forecasted. The
threshold conditions for it are usually sustained winds of 18 knots (21 mph) (less than 18 knots in some dangerous waters) to 33 knots (38 mph) inclusive or hazardous wave conditions (such as 4 feet or greater). In the
Great Lakes, this advisory relates to conditions within 5 nautical miles of shore. As a result, these will be only issued in the
Nearshore Forecast. Along the coastal regions of the
East Coast,
Gulf of Mexico, and
West Coast, this advisory relates to conditions out to as much as 100
nautical miles of shore (coastal waters). As a result, these will be only issued in the Coastal Marine Forecast.
Mariners learning of this advisory are urged to determine immediately the reason by turning their radios to the latest
marine broadcast. Decisions as to the degree of the
hazard will be left to the boater, based on
experience and
size and type of
boat. There is no legal
definition for a "small craft".
"Hieroglyphics? Let me be Pacific
I wanna go down in your South Seas
But I got this notion
That the motion of your ocean means
Small Craft Advisory"
- The Bloodhound Gang, The Bad Touch