NWS Active Marine Safety & Weather Alerts
Live Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) feed from the National Weather Service and United States Coast Guard. Check Small Craft Advisories, Gale Warnings, and Inundation Alerts before launching on Chesapeake Bay or Atlantic coastal waters.
Active Marine Advisories by Zone
Test Message
Montgomery
Effective Thu 8:04 pm · expires Thu 8:14 pm · NWS
Official alert record →Source: api.weather.gov · areas MD, DE, VA · checked Thu 8:13 pm
Required Safety Equipment & VHF Channels
USCG-approved life jacket for every passenger aboard. Children under 13 must wear PFD at all times while underway.
International distress, safety, and calling frequency. Monitor Ch 16 at all times while operating in open Bay or ocean waters.
Required marine fire extinguisher for all motorized vessels with enclosed fuel tanks or engine compartments.
USCG-approved pyrotechnic flares or electric distress light for night operations on coastal waters.
Where the real readings live
A safety page should never show a number nothing measured. Our own monitored gauges render live on the telemetry page with their freshness stated; for buoy observations, go straight to the official networks.
Marine VHF Channel Reference Guide
| Channel | Usage & Priority | Coverage / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CH 16 | International Distress, Safety & Calling — MANDATORY MONITOR | All vessels underway must monitor Ch 16. First contact then switch to working channel. |
| CH 22A | USCG Working Channel | Call USCG on Ch 16, then switch to Ch 22A for working communications. Sector Baltimore primary. |
| CH 9 | Recreational Boater Calling Channel | Alternate non-commercial calling channel. Widely used by recreational anglers for contact. |
| CH 13 | Bridge-to-Bridge Navigation Safety | Commercial vessel navigation. Required at drawbridges and regulated commercial waterways. |
| CH 68, 69, 72 | Recreational Non-Commercial Working | Popular recreational angler working channels for boat-to-boat communication on the Bay. |
| CH 71, 78A | Recreational Non-Commercial Working | Additional recreational working channels. 78A frequently used on Upper Chesapeake. |
| WX1–WX7 | NOAA Weather Radio — Continuous Broadcast | WX1 = 162.550 MHz | WX2 = 162.400 MHz (KHB-34 Baltimore) | WX3 = 162.475 MHz. Listen before launching! |
Chesapeake Bay Tow & Rescue Emergency Directory
Directory numbers change — verify any listing before you rely on it. In an emergency, VHF Ch 16 always raises the Coast Guard; in immediate danger call 911.
Jurisdiction: Upper Chesapeake, C&D Canal, Maryland Coastal
Baltimore Harbor, Middle Bay, Back River, Patapsco Ops
All Maryland state waters, boating law enforcement, wildlife emergency
National towing network. 24/7 dispatch. Free with BoatUS membership.
Upper Bay, C&D Canal, Elk River, Northeast River, Susquehanna
Baltimore transmitter covering Upper Bay, C&D Canal, Cecil County
Water rescue helicopter support. Trooper Barrack F, Frederick MD. SAR operations.
Delaware Bay, Delaware River, Inland Bays, Indian River Inlet
Bay Angler Storm Preparedness Checklist
Pre-Launch Protocol
- ☑ File a float plan with a shore contact (location, return time, emergency contacts)
- ☑ Monitor NWS marine forecast for your specific zone (≥ 2 hrs before launch)
- ☑ Check VHF radio battery and scan Ch 16 for active warnings
- ☑ Verify PFDs aboard for all passengers; children under 13 must wear PFD
- ☑ Inspect fuel level (1/3 out, 1/3 back, 1/3 reserve rule)
- ☑ Test bilge pump, fire extinguisher, and visual distress signals
- ☑ Post emergency contacts and nearest boat ramp locations in cockpit
- ☑ Anchor, dock lines, and fenders ready for emergency tie-up
On-Water Storm Protocol
- ☑ Monitor Ch 16 continuously while underway; switch to WX1–WX7 for weather
- ☑ Observe western and northwestern sky; anvil-shaped cumulus = storm threat
- ☑ Identify nearest sheltered anchorage or boat ramp at all times
- ☑ Apply 3-mile standoff rule from active storm cells
- ☑ Prepare anchor technique (7:1 scope ratio, cleated firmly)
- ☑ Arm EPIRB/PLB and ensure GPS satellite lock if offshore
Post-Storm Recovery
- ☑ Thoroughly inspect hull, transom, and bilge for water intrusion or damage
- ☑ Flush engine with fresh water after saltwater or brackish storm surge exposure
- ☑ Log all NOAA buoy conditions and weather observations to your trip journal
- ☑ Report any new hazardous debris (logs, buoy damage, shoaling) to USCG via Ch 16 or NavCen