Gale watch

A gale watch is issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when there is an increased risk for a gale-force wind event, meaning sustained surface winds, or frequent gusts, of 34 to 47 kn, but the occurrence, location, and/or timing of the event is still uncertain.

Example
The following is an example of a gale watch issued by the National Weather Service office in Miami, Florida.

578 WHUS72 KMFL 111914 MWWMFL

URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 214 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 OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF THE BAHAMAS- 214 PM EST THU FEB 11 2010

...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT... ...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 THIS AFTERNOON. A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PASS NORTH OF THE REGION FRIDAY EVENING. STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FRIDAY AHEAD OF THE LOW...WITH STRONG WESTERLY WINDS BEHIND THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT PASSING DURING THE EVENING HOURS. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 TO 35 KNOTS ARE POSSIBLE WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO 40 KNOTS EVEN OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORMS. THESE WINDS WILL LEAD TO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MARINE CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A GALE WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN THE RISK OF GALE FORCE WINDS OF 34 TO 47 KNOTS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED...BUT THE SPECIFIC TIMING AND/OR LOCATION IS STILL UNCERTAIN. IT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LEAD TIME FOR MARINERS WHO MAY WISH TO CONSIDER ALTERING THEIR PLANS.

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