How You Can Change the Weather

Sailor Jim Haussener has alerted us to an opportunity for you to change the weather. Specifically, a notice was sent out by the National Weather Service (NWS) seeking your input on changes to the Watch, Warning, and Advisory system. The NWS is striving to support a “weather-ready nation” by ensuring we are all aware of and prepared for the variety of meteorological and water-based hazards we experience across the country every day.

An extensive research program indicated that the current Watch, Warning, and Advisory (WWA) system involves too many products, and that the messages and headlines can be confusing and “widely misunderstood.” NWS is now looking to “Revamp” the process and simplify its messages.

This is important news for sailors, especially those who venture offshore. So we encourage you to take part in the survey and help make the system safer for all mariners. After all, most of the time we are waiting to see how the weather will affect us. This time you can affect the weather.