BOSTON – Coast Guard units in New England are pre-staging their crews and equipment and warning offshore mariners today in anticipation of severe weather conditions expected to arrive early Monday morning and generate winds around 50 knots and seas more than 26 feet high.
Coast Guard shore units are issuing safety broadcasts via VHF/HF radio to warn mariners of the approaching severe weather, and a Falcon jet from Air Station Cape Cod is flying stormtracks to broadcast warnings to mariners offshore.
The Coast Guard recommends that mariners secure their vessels for the pending severe weather as soon as possible. High seas, heavy rains, and damaging winds that accompany severe coastal weather present serious dangers to coastal communities.
Mariners should stay ashore until the storm passes, or if already underway they should seek safe harbor as soon as possible. Mariners are encouraged to closely monitor VHF/HF channel 16 for updated information.
“We realize that demand is high during this holiday season, but the best gift commercial fishermen can give their families is to stay safe and wait until the weather improves before heading out to sea,” said Lt. j.g. Ben O’Loughlin, a First Coast Guard District Command Center controller.
