Editing Gale warning

{{short description|Weather forecast that includes a warning of a gale and high winds}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{for|the novel by [[Dornford Yates]]|Gale Warning}}
[[File:Gale Warning - Depoe Bay Oregon.jpg|thumb|right|Gale warning flags (USA)]]

A ''gale warning'' is an alert issued by national [[weather forecasting]] agencies around the world in an event that maritime locations currently or imminently experiencing winds of [[gale]] force on the [[Beaufort scale]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/beaufort.html|title=Beaufort Wind Scale|website=www.spc.noaa.gov}}</ref> Gale warnings (and gale watches) allow mariners to take precautionary actions to ensure their safety at sea or to seek safe anchorage and ride out the storm on land.  Though usually associated with deep [[low-pressure area]]s, winds strong enough to catalyze a gale warning can occur in other conditions too, including from [[anticyclone]]s, or high-pressure systems, in the continental interior. The winds are not directly associated with a tropical cyclone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://w1.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?word=Gale+Warning|title=Glossary - NOAA's National Weather Service|first=NOAA's National Weather|last=Service|website=w1.weather.gov}}</ref>

==Usage in the United States==
===Maritime===
In the [[United States]], the [[National Weather Service]] issues gale warnings for marine areas (oceans, sounds, estuaries, and the [[Great Lakes]]) experiencing, or about to experience, winds within the range of {{Convert|34|kn}} to {{Convert|47|kn}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gale Warning|url=http://www.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?word=gale+warning|work=Glossary – National Weather Service|access-date=20 May 2011|author=National Weather Service}}</ref> In United States maritime warning flag systems, two red pennants indicate a gale warning; the use of one such flag denotes a [[small craft advisory]].

The National Weather Service issues a [[storm warning]] for higher winds of {{Convert|48|kn}} to {{Convert|63|kn}} at sea.  In the event of a tropical cyclone, however, a [[tropical storm warning]] replaces both the gale warning and the storm warning.  In this type of situation, the storm warning maritime flag is also used in lieu of the gale warning pennants, regardless of the intensity of the tropical storm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://w1.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?word=Storm+Warning|title=Glossary - NOAA's National Weather Service|first=NOAA's National Weather|last=Service|website=w1.weather.gov}}</ref>

===Land===
{{Redirect-distinguish|High wind warning|Extreme wind warning|high wind watch}}
The [[National Weather Service]] issues a similar '''high wind warning''' ([[Specific Area Message Encoding]] code: HWW) for high winds on land.  The criteria vary from place to place; however, in most cases, the warning applies to winds of {{Convert|40|mph}} to {{Convert|73|mph}} for at least 1 hour; ''or'' any gusts of {{Convert|58|mph}} to {{Convert|114|mph}} on land. It is more severe than a ''wind advisory'', but not as severe as an ''[[extreme wind warning]]'', which is generally issued if major hurricane winds are expected from a [[tropical cyclone]]. The high wind warning is not issued if a [[tropical storm warning]], [[blizzard warning]], [[winter storm warning]], [[severe thunderstorm warning]], [[dust storm warning]], or [[tornado warning]] covers the phenomenon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://w1.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?word=High+Wind+Warning|title=Glossary - NOAA's National Weather Service|first=NOAA's National Weather|last=Service|website=w1.weather.gov}}</ref> This should not be confused with the extreme wind warning tag, which denotes wind speeds of 115 mph or greater, and is most often seen in powerful hurricanes.

==Usage in the United Kingdom==
In the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Met Office]] issues gale warnings, and radio broadcasts them four times a day at fixed times on 198&nbsp;kHz in the [[Shipping Forecast]], part of the broadcast output of [[BBC Radio 4]].  If a considerable time will intervene before the next Shipping Forecast, forecasters may issue an extra gale warning, read between programmes.  The Meteorological Office issues warnings for sea areas surrounding the United Kingdom for all predictions of winds of [[Beaufort scale]] Force 8 or greater, the forecasts extending as far north as [[Iceland]] and as far south as southern [[Spain]].{{fact|date=August 2019}}
 
[[Robert FitzRoy]] developed the first weather forecasting and storm warning system. On 1 September 1860 weather reports began to be collected at the [[Meteorological Office]] in London via electric telegraph and on 5 February 1861 the first storm warning was issued.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/library/archive-hidden-treasures/royal-charter|website=Met Office (UK) website|title=The Royal Charter Gale and the world's first National Forecasting Service}}</ref> After his death in 1865 the storm warning service was discontinued due to the ongoing debate about its scientific accuracy but the increased loss of life caused a public outcry and a campaign in press and in parliament saw the restoration of storm warnings in 1867. The service continues to this day and is now known as the iconic [[Shipping Forecast]].{{fact|date=August 2019}}
==Usage in Ireland==
[[Met Éireann]], the [[Republic of Ireland]] meteorological office, issues an area forecast for the [[Irish Sea]] and warnings for sea areas around Ireland with headlands of Ireland (e.g. [[Fair Head]], [[Malin Head]], [[Mizen Head]], [[Carnsore Point]]) defining stretches of coast.{{fact|date=August 2019}}
==Usage in Canada==
In [[Canada]], the [[Meteorological Service of Canada]] branch of the [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] issues a gale warning for lakes, oceans, and other marine areas within the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/general-marine-weather-information/publications/canadian-warning-program/chapter-1.html|title=Canadian marine warning program: chapter 1
|website=[[Environment and Climate Change Canada]]|date=25 January 2013
|access-date=January 15, 2021}}</ref>

==Usage in the Philippines==
In the [[Philippines]], the [[PAGASA|Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration]] (PAGASA) branch of the [[Department of Science and Technology (Philippines)|Department of Science and Technology]] (DOST) issues gale warnings during weather disturbances (including [[typhoons in the Philippines|typhoon]]s) within the [[Philippine Area of Responsibility]] (PAR).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/marine|title=Gale Warning|website=Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration|access-date=January 15, 2021}}</ref>

==Example==
The following is an example of a Gale Warning issued by the National Weather Service office in [[North Webster|North Webster, Indiana]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gale Warning|url=http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/2010-O-NEW-KMFL-GL-W-0001.html#2010-O-NEW-KMFL-GL-W-0001|work=Iowa Environmental Mesonet NWS Product Archive|access-date=20 May 2011|author=National Weather Service}}</ref>

<pre>
URGENT - MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
901 PM EDT WED OCT 29 2014

LMZ043-046-300915-
/O.CON.KIWX.GL.W.0014.141031T1200Z-141101T0900Z/
NEW BUFFALO MI TO ST JOSEPH MI-MICHIGAN CITY IN TO NEW BUFFALO MI-
901 PM EDT WED OCT 29 2014

...GALE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM FRIDAY TO 5 AM EDT
SATURDAY...

* WINDS...NORTHWEST 15 TO 25 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS BY
  DAYBREAK FRIDAY...VEERING NORTH TO 35 KNOT GALES WITH GUSTS TO
  45 KNOT GALES FRIDAY. NORTH WINDS DIMINISHING TO 20 TO 30
  KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 35 KNOT GALES LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.

* WAVES..5 TO 8 FEET LATE THURSDAY NIGHT...BUILDING TO 14 TO 20
  FEET FRIDAY...SUBSIDING TO 8 TO 12 FEET LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A GALE WARNING MEANS WINDS OF 34 TO 47 KNOTS ARE IMMINENT OR
OCCURRING. OPERATING A VESSEL IN GALE CONDITIONS REQUIRES
EXPERIENCE AND PROPERLY EQUIPPED VESSELS. IT IS HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED THAT MARINERS WITHOUT THE PROPER EXPERIENCE SEEK SAFE
HARBOR PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF GALE CONDITIONS.

&&

$$

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR
UPDATES...OR CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX/?N=MARINE

</pre>

==See also==
* [[Severe weather terminology (United States)]]
* [[Small craft advisory]]
* [[Storm warning]]
* [[Tropical cyclone warnings and watches]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060703204148/http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/cd/brochures/warning_e.cfm Meteorological Service of Canada]
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[[Category:Weather warnings and advisories]]
[[Category:Seas]]
[[Category:Winds]]