PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
100 PM PST MON MAY 3 2004 


...TEST PLANNED FOR WAVE WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES... 


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN 
EUREKA CALIFORNIA WILL CONDUCT A TEST ON THE 
CRITERIA FOR MARINE WAVE WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES. 
PREVIOUS WAVE ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN SOLELY BASED ON 
WAVE HEIGHT. DURING THE TEST...BOTH WAVE HEIGHT AND 
STEEPNESS WILL BE USED. THE COASTAL WATERS AFFECTED 
WILL BE FROM POINT SAINT GEORGE TO POINT ARENA OUT 60 NM. 
NO OTHER COASTAL WATERS WILL BE AFFECTED. THE TEST 
PERIOD WILL RUN FROM JUNE 1 TO DECEMBER 1 2004. 


THE PURPOSE OF THE NEW CRITERIA IS TO ALERT MARINERS 
TO SMALLER HAZARDOUS WAVES AND TO INCREASE AWARENESS 
OF LARGE HAZARDOUS  WAVES. THE TEST WILL ALSO SEPARATE 
WIND WARNINGS FROOM WAVE WARNINGS INCREASING THE CLARITY 
OF WHAT HAZARD IS EXPECTED. 


A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS WILL BE ISSUED 
FOR STEEP WAVES OF LESS THAN 10 FEET. FOR WAVES BETWEEN 10 
FEET AND 18 FEET...A HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING WILL BE ISSUED
FOR STEEP WAVES AND AN ADVISORY FOR ALL OTHER WAVES. 
ADDITIONALLY...A HAZARDOUS SEAS WARNING WILL BE ISSUED FOR
WAVES OF 19 FEET OR MORE. 


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL BE ASKING FOR COMMENTS 
FROM MARINERS ON THE NEW CRITERIA THROUGHOUT THE 
TEST PERIOD. QUESTIONS ON THE TEST CAN BE DIRECTED 
TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT 707-443-6484. 

$$ 

Webmaster
National Weather Service
Eureka Weather Forecast Office
300 Startare Drive
Eureka, California 95501

Tel: (707) 443-6484