Small Craft Advisory Name Change

NWS Proposal to Change the

"Small Craft Advisory Name to "Small Craft Warning"

What Do You Think? Soliciting Feedback Through August 31, 2020

What is Being Proposed?

To change the Small Craft Advisory product to a Small Craft Warning product, including the headlines. Criteria for the product would remain the same, which for the nearshore waters of Lake Michigan is "Sustained winds or frequent gusts (on the Great Lakes) between 22 and 33 knots inclusive, and/or seas or waves greater than 4 feet." The change is simply in the name.

Why is This Change Being Proposed?

The NWS is considering a major change to the Watch, Warning, and Advisory (WWA) system. For information on this and other proposed changes see: https://www.weather.gov/hazardsimplification/ As part of the proposed new system, NWS would remove the terms "Advisory," "Special Weather Statement," and "NOWcast" as headlines and streamline all sub-Watch and sub-Warning information into a single, plain language statement, with a few exceptions. One exception to this change includes the marine Small Craft Advisory (SCA) product. Due to the critical nature and use of the information in the Small Craft Advisory product and the fact that associated conditions require vessels of a certain size to take protective action, NWS proposes renaming this product "Small Craft Warning" instead of converting it to a plain language statement. The NWS regional criteria for issuing Small Craft Advisories would remain the same for Small Craft Warnings. Below is a link to the current regional SCA criteria: https://www.weather.gov/marine/faq#13

Where Can I Find More Information on This Proposal?

A description of the proposal to change Small Craft Advisory to Small Craft Warning, product examples, and requirements explanation can be found at this link.

How Can I Share My Feedback?

Please provide your feedback by taking this survey. Responses will be collected through August 31st, 2020.