Marine Weather Broadcasts from the USCG

The NWS and USCG value reports from mariners of both poor AND good radio reception. Please note your location, equipment/software used, date(s), time(s), signal strength, etc. You can send an email with your reception report and request for a QSL card to the US Coast Guard's Central Communication Headquarters at: 

COM-SMB-WATCH@uscg.mil 

Send comments about the charts to marine.weather@noaa.gov.

The NWS radiofax program prepares high seas weather maps via four U.S. Coast Guard sites: Boston, New Orleans, Pt. Reyes, and Kodiak and the Defense Department transmitter site in Honolulu. These broadcasts are prepared by the Ocean Prediction Center , National Hurricane Center, Honolulu Forecast Office. and Anchorage Forecast Office. You can also find limited satellite imagery, sea surface temperature maps and text forecasts.

Key Links:

• Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS): All NWS marine forecasts rely heavily on voluntary meteorological observations
• U.S. Coast Guard broadcast schedules: Refer to NGA Publication 117
• The British Admiralty List of Radio Signals: Reference for weather broadcast information
• Historic Weather and Satellite Data: National Center for Environmental Information
• 500 MB charts info, article on 500 mb charts:
• International Ice Patrol broadcasts radiofax charts from Boston sharing the same transmitters.
• U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Telecommunications Information
• Radiofacsimile Charts User's Guide, NOAA National Ocean Service
• Marine Radiofacsimile History: Radiofax is approaching 100 years old! The earliest broadcasts of weather maps via radiofacsimile appear to have been made in 1926 by American inventor Charles Francis Jenkins in a demonstration to the NAVY. Jenkins is often credited with the invention of the motion picture and later established the first U.S. TV station, W3XK in Wash D.C. and later, Wheaton, MD. RCA and the U.S. Weather Bureau conducted further tests and began cooperative efforts in 1930. While radiofacsimile has been used for everything from transmitting newspapers to wanted posters in the past, the broadcasting of marine weather charts is today the primary application. The Smithsonian offers an interesting video: Founding Fragments - Radio Fax

NWS radiofax products are available via the Internet (HTTP, FTP or E-mail). 

National Weather Service Marine Products via U.S. Coast Guard HF SITOR

The U.S. Coast Guard broadcasts National Weather Service high seas forecasts and storm warnings from four high seas communication stations in the SITOR mode. These broadcasts are prepared cooperatively by the Ocean Prediction Center , National Hurricane Center, Honolulu Forecast Office. Offshore and coastal forecasts are available in areas such as Alaska. The International Ice Patrol also broadcasts from Boston sharing the same transmitters. 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. Visit the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Telecommunications Information webpage for further information on U.S. Coast Guard telecommunications.

Click here to listen to what a typical SITOR signal sounds like on the air.

U.S. Coast Guard SITOR (Simplex Teletype Over Radio) text broadcasts are performed in mode B, FEC. SITOR is also known as Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP). SITOR/NBDP is an automated direct printing service similar to NAVTEX, but does not offer all of the same functionality such as avoiding repeated messages.

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.

National Weather Service Products Recommended for Broadcast by the US Coast Guard

Assigned frequencies shown, for carrier frequencies subtract 1.7 kHz. Typically specialized marine communications equipment uses assigned SITOR frequencies while general purpose equipment uses carrier frequencies. Note that stations share common frequencies.

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 high seas forecasts and storm warnings from six high seas communication stations. These broadcasts are prepared cooperatively by the Ocean Prediction Center , National Hurricane Center, 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.

U.S. Coast Guard HF voice broadcasts are performed in the upper sideband mode using a synthesized voice known as "Iron Mike." 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.

National Weather Service Products Recommended for Broadcast by the US Coast Guard

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.

National Weather Service Marine Products via USCG VHF Voice

Ch 16    156.8 MHz VHF FM (Calling/Announcement frequency)
Ch 22A 157.1 MHz VHF FM (Broadcast frequency)

The U.S. Coast Guard broadcasts coastal forecasts and storm Warnings of interest to the mariner on VHF channel 22A following an initial announcement on VHF channel 16. These forecasts are produced by local National Weather Service Forecast Offices. The USCG VHF network provides near continuous coverage of coastal U.S., Great Lakes, Hawaii, and populated Alaska coastline. Typical coverage is 20 nautical miles offshore, but can be significantly greater. Visit the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Telecommunications Information webpage for further information on U.S. Coast Guard telecommunications including maps showing areas of VHF coverage and Rules Which Require Listening to your VHF Marine Radio. See tables below for a listing of current broadcast schedules of U.S. Coast Guard Group stations performing VHF voice broadcasts.

Click here to listen to a typical USCG VHF broadcast.

In areas where NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts provide complete overlapping coverage of the U.S. Coast Guard VHF network, the U.S. Coast Guard may elect to broadcast warnings only and not routinely broadcast NWS marine forecasts.

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.

National Weather Service Products Recommended for Broadcast by the US Coast Guard

National Weather Service Products Recommended for Broadcast by the US Coast Guard

NAVTEX Broadcast Schedule (Station, Identifier and time of weather broadcast in UTC)