--- title: What is a small craft advisory? description: "A small craft advisory is typically issued when wind speeds are expected to reach between: 20 and 33 knots. High wind warnings." image: https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/courses/pcoc2021/images/advisories-and-warnings-flags.png --- ![Boating forecast](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/usa2024/images/images-transparentes/beach-and-boating-forecast.png?width=736&height=404&name=beach-and-boating-forecast.png) A Small Craft Advisory is typically issued when wind speeds are expected to reach more than: - **18 knots, and/or ** - **wave heights between 4 and 7 feet.** A Small Craft Advisory is a type of warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States to alert mariners of hazardous marine weather conditions. The purpose of a Small Craft Advisory is to advise small boat operators of potentially dangerous conditions, and to encourage them to take appropriate safety precautions or avoid boating altogether. This can include staying in port, altering course to avoid hazardous areas, or increasing safety equipment on board. Small Craft Advisories are issued for coastal waters, estuaries, and large lakes, and can be issued for a variety of weather conditions, including strong winds, rough seas, heavy rain, and thunderstorms. It is important for mariners to stay informed of weather conditions and heed Small Craft Advisories in order to stay safe on the water. The advisory is intended to alert small vessel operators to the potential danger of these conditions and to encourage them to take appropriate precautions. This may include staying in port or taking a different route to avoid the hazardous conditions. The advisory is not a ban on boating, but rather a warning to boaters to be extra cautious and aware of the weather conditions. ### Small Craft Advisory Winds of 18 to 33 knots, or 24 to 38 miles per hour. ![Small Craft Advisory Flag](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/pcoc2021/images/small-craft-advisory-flag.png?width=500&height=500&name=small-craft-advisory-flag.png) ### Gale Warning Winds of 34 to 47 knots, or 39 to 54 miles per hour. ![Gale Warning Flag](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/pcoc2021/images/gale-warning-flags.png?width=500&height=500&name=gale-warning-flags.png) ### Storm Warning Winds of 48 to 64 knots, or 54 to 74 miles per hour. ![Storm Warning Flag](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/pcoc2021/images/storm-warning-flag.png?width=500&height=500&name=storm-warning-flag.png) ### Hurricane Warning Winds greater than 64 knots, or greater than 74 miles per hour. ![Hurricane Warning flag](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/pcoc2021/images/hurricane-warning-flags.png?width=500&height=500&name=hurricane-warning-flags.png) If you are planning to go boating or engage in other water activities, it's always a good idea to check the weather forecast and any advisories or warnings issued by the NWS before heading out. In addition to winds and waves, other factors that may trigger a Small Craft Advisory include fog, thunderstorms, and sea ice. The NWS may also issue a Small Craft Advisory for rivers and inland waterways in the event of strong currents or flooding.   ![Small craft advisory](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/usa2024/images/images-transparentes/small-craft-advisory.png?width=823&height=333&name=small-craft-advisory.png) - [** Follow Ace Boater on YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJABNcQHyTGe3ta_lZJ4exw) - [** Join Ace Boater on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/AceBoater) - [** Contact Ace Boater ](https://course.aceboater.com/en/contact) - [** AceBoater on Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/aceboater/) - [** AceBoater on X ](https://twitter.com/AceboaterCanada) [![Ace Boater - Boating license and exam online](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/aceboater/brand/ace-boater.svg)](https://aceboater.com/canada) #### Boating License & Pleasure Craft Operator Card online exam - Accredited Transport Canada [↑](https://aceboater.com/small-craft-advisory#top) - [Refund Policy](https://aceboater.com/refund-policy) - [Privacy Policy](https://aceboater.com/privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "WebPage", "breadcrumb" : { "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/canada", "@type" : "WebPage", "name" : "Home" }, "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/boat-license-canada", "@type" : "WebPage", "name" : "FAQ" }, "position" : 2 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/safe-boating-course-review", "@type" : "WebPage", "name" : "Table of Contents" }, "position" : 3 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/planning-preparation-boating-trips", "@type" : "WebPage", "name" : "Best planning and preparation practices" }, "position" : 4 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/limits-operator-boat-environment", "@type" : "WebPage", "name" : "Limits of the operator, the boat and the environment" }, "position" : 5 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : { "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/small-craft-advisory", "@type" : "WebPage", "name" : "What Is a Small Craft Advisory?" }, "position" : 6 } ] }, "dateModified" : "2024-04-17T14:33:10.222-0400", "datePublished" : "2023-03-07T11:02:54.000-0500", "description" : "A small craft advisory is typically issued when wind speeds are expected to reach between: 20 and 33 knots. High wind warnings.", "headline" : "What is a small craft advisory?", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/courses/pcoc2021/images/advisories-and-warnings-flags.png" }, "lastReviewed" : "2024-04-17T14:33:10.222-0400", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/aceboater/brand/ace-boater.svg" }, "name" : "E.S.N.N.A. Inc." }, "url" : "https://aceboater.com/small-craft-advisory" } ```