Agale watch is issued by theNational Weather Service of theUnited States when there is an increased risk for a gale-force wind event, meaning sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, of 34 to 47 knots (39 to 54 mph; 63 to 87 km/h), but the occurrence, location, and/or timing of the event is still uncertain.[1]
The following is an example of a gale watch issued by the National Weather Service office inMiami, Florida.[2]
578 WHUS72 KMFL 111914MWWMFLURGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGENATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL214 PM EST THU FEB 11 2010...GALE FORCE WINDS POSSIBLE FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT...AMZ650-651-670-671-120930-/O.CAN.KMFL.SC.Y.0051.000000T0000Z-100211T2300Z//O.NEW.KMFL.GL.A.0001.100212T1500Z-100213T0900Z/COASTAL WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL OUT20 NM-COASTAL WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM20 NM TO 60 NM-WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL EXTENDING FROM20 NM TO THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF THE BAHAMAS-214 PM EST THU FEB 11 2010...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE FRIDAYNIGHT......SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI HAS ISSUED A GALE WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR THIS AFTERNOON HAS BEEN CANCELLED.SEAS HAVE SUBSIDED BELOW 7 FEET ACROSS THE GULF STREAM THISAFTERNOON. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PASS NORTH OF THEREGION FRIDAY EVENING. STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TODEVELOP FRIDAY AHEAD OF THE LOW...WITH STRONG WESTERLY WINDSBEHIND THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT PASSING DURING THE EVENING HOURS.SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 TO 35 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH FREQUENT GUSTSTO 40 KNOTS EVEN OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORMS. THESE WINDS WILL LEADTO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MARINE CONDITIONS.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...A GALE WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN THE RISK OF GALE FORCE WINDS OF 34 TO47 KNOTS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED...BUT THE SPECIFIC TIMINGAND/OR LOCATION IS STILL UNCERTAIN. IT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDEADDITIONAL LEAD TIME FOR MARINERS WHO MAY WISH TO CONSIDERALTERING THEIR PLANS.&&$$