1. Department of Transportation USCG/ District 9 Waterways Department of Transportation USCG/ District 9 Waterways WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Waterway Operations

2. Background Readiness Status Impacts Summary Background Readiness Status Impacts Summary WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Overview

3. Weather influences depend on: –Cutter capabilities –Type of missions –Area of operations Weather influences depend on: –Cutter capabilities –Type of missions –Area of operations WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Background

4. Sources of Weather Information –National Weather Service –National Ice Center Communications –Telephone and teletype –Internet –NOAA Weather Radio Sources of Weather Information –National Weather Service –National Ice Center Communications –Telephone and teletype –Internet –NOAA Weather Radio WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Background

5. Coast Guard cutters are assigned a "readiness" status –Period of time a cutter must be ready to proceed to a tasked mission 2 hours 12 hours 24 hours Weather information with similar leadtime is needed Coast Guard cutters are assigned a "readiness" status –Period of time a cutter must be ready to proceed to a tasked mission 2 hours 12 hours 24 hours Weather information with similar leadtime is needed WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Readiness Status

6. Any precipitation has an impact…reducing visibility and producing radar ground clutter Snowfall affects cutter stability and crew movement Ice is most critical…reducing cutter stability Flooding caused by ice jams may require ice breaking operations Any precipitation has an impact…reducing visibility and producing radar ground clutter Snowfall affects cutter stability and crew movement Ice is most critical…reducing cutter stability Flooding caused by ice jams may require ice breaking operations WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Impacts - Precipitation

7. Freezing air and water temperatures affect Coast Guard operations Freezing spray / structural icing reduces cutter stability Sea-ice formation –Suspend small boat operations –Commence icebreaking operations Temperature extremes impact personnel Freezing air and water temperatures affect Coast Guard operations Freezing spray / structural icing reduces cutter stability Sea-ice formation –Suspend small boat operations –Commence icebreaking operations Temperature extremes impact personnel WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Impacts - Temperatures

8. Commanding Officer's Standing Orders direct cutter's response to reduced visibility –Normally precautions are directed when visibility is reduced to between 2-4 nautical miles Commanding Officer's Standing Orders direct cutter's response to reduced visibility –Normally precautions are directed when visibility is reduced to between 2-4 nautical miles WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Impacts - Visibility

9. Each class of Coast Guard cutter reacts differently to different wind speeds –Higher wind speeds may reduce or restrict small boat operations –High winds may dictate "search and rescue" operations Each class of Coast Guard cutter reacts differently to different wind speeds –Higher wind speeds may reduce or restrict small boat operations –High winds may dictate "search and rescue" operations WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Impacts - Winds

10. Wind-driven tides ("seiching") produces low water levels –Restricts shallow water boat operations Wave effects on port operations differ depending on cutter mooring Extreme wave height may restrict operations and dictate "search and rescue" missions Wind-driven tides ("seiching") produces low water levels –Restricts shallow water boat operations Wave effects on port operations differ depending on cutter mooring Extreme wave height may restrict operations and dictate "search and rescue" missions WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Impacts - Waves

11. Safety of public Readiness to respond Mission effectiveness Safety of public Readiness to respond Mission effectiveness WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Summary