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Coast Guard Public Affairs Detachment Los Angeles |
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WEATHER ADVISORY |
Date: April 25, 2009 Contact: Mr. Anthony Turner |
| Coast Guard warns boaters of hazardous weather conditions |
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OXNARD, Calif - The National Weather Service has issued a Small Craft Advisory for the southern California Coast, including the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary, until later this evening. Boaters who plan on venturing out should take extra precautions to ensure their own safety. A Small Craft Advisory means that winds speeds of 21 to 33 knots are expected to produce hazardous wave conditions to small craft. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating small vessels should avoid getting underway in these conditions.
Those who do venture out should file a float plan (www.floatplancentral.org) with a friend or family member on land. It is also recommended that you regularly check in with those who are aware of your plan, especially if your plan should change. "The Coast Guard also recommends boaters make sure they have the required safety equipment such as lifejackets for everyone on board and signal flares. Boaters should also equip their boats with GPS, a marine VHF radio, and 406 Mhz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) ", said Anthony Turner, a spokesperson for Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles - Long Beach. Mariners should check current and forecasted weather conditions prior to getting underway, and remain aware of changing conditions once on the water. The National Weather Service broadcasts weather conditions throughout the day on VHF channel WX2. The Coast Guard broadcasts weather conditions on VHF channel 22A. The most current marine forecast is available on the National Weather Service web site at http://www.weather.gov/. Boating safety requirements and education information can be found at http://www.uscgboating.org/. |
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