High Seas Weather Broadcasts and Forecast Areas

A passage weather plan needs to identify both the forecast being used and the means of receiving it. A change to a broadcast product is different from a change to the forecast area's boundaries. The NWS notices for 2025 and 2026 address both subjects, as well as wave-height units. Reading those distinctions carefully helps avoid applying a change more widely than the notice specifies.

Official Forecasts by HF Radio

NWS supplies forecast material for Coast Guard HF voice broadcasts, and HF radiofax carries NWS high-seas forecast graphics. These are different forms of delivery. When choosing material for a passage, record the product name, the geographic area it describes and how you intend to receive it. Do not assume that a familiar broadcast label establishes which forecast or area is covered.

The NWS marine news notices identify the changes to condensed offshore products, Pacific high-seas coverage and high-seas wave-height units, along with the HF radiofax proposal. An effective service change and a request for comments have different meanings. The radiofax item remains a proposal in the available notice; it is not a final announcement that broadcasts have ended.

Changes to Coast Guard HF Voice Content

On January 6, 2026, NWS discontinued the condensed offshore forecasts supplied to Coast Guard HF transmitters for New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Caribbean and Tropical North Atlantic, the Gulf, the Southwest North Atlantic including the Bahamas, Washington and Oregon, and California. The change concerns those condensed products, commonly associated with HF voice broadcasts or VOBRA.

The NWS notice retains the full Offshore Waters Forecasts, High Seas Forecasts and NAVTEX products. Hawaii offshore forecasts also continue. It does not announce the end of Pacific or Hawaii HF voice broadcasts. For a passage plan, distinguish the discontinued condensed product from the full forecast and from the transmitter or delivery system itself.

The Radiofax Proposal

In a June 9, 2026 statement, NWS sought comments through July 13, 2026 on proposed discontinuation of HF radiofax broadcasts from Honolulu, Boston, Kodiak, Point Reyes and New Orleans. The Honolulu station is identified as KVM70. The comment deadline is a stage in that proposal, not a broadcast termination date.

NWS stated that it would continue producing the charts and that NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts would not be affected. If one or more HF radiofax broadcasts were discontinued, a Service Change Notice would be issued; the proposed timing, if approved, was toward the end of 2026. The available proposal contains no final decision. Before relying on a delivery method, distinguish chart production from access to those charts and verify the applicable service notice.

Pacific Forecast Areas Since February 2026

At 1200 UTC on February 17, 2026, the western boundary of NWS Pacific text high-seas forecasts moved from approximately 160 degrees E to 180 degrees E. West of 120 degrees W, the southern boundary moved from 25 degrees S to the Equator. The NWS Pacific coverage explanation describes these adjustments and the removal of overlapping forecast sections.

The South Mid-Pacific text forecast was discontinued. NWS continues issuing text forecasts for METAREA XII in its entirety, and METAREA XII's area itself did not change. The distinction is between the coverage of the NWS text products and the internationally designated area's boundaries.

High-seas text forecasts for METAREA X are issued by Australia, those for METAREA XI by Japan, and those for METAREA XIV by New Zealand. When a planned route crosses a forecast boundary, identify the relevant issuing service for each part. Retaining latitude and longitude limits in the passage notes is more precise than relying on a broad label such as Pacific forecast.

Wave Heights in Meters

NWS changed high-seas text and graphical wave-height products from feet to meters on or about May 15, 2025. The notice excludes Coastal Waters Forecasts within 60 nautical miles of the U.S. coastline, Great Lakes forecasts and offshore zones. A unit change for high-seas products should therefore not be assumed to apply to every marine forecast.

Keep the stated unit beside each wave-height value when copying information into a log or comparing products. If conversion is needed, label the converted value and retain the source value too. An unlabeled number leaves a later reader to guess, especially when notes combine high-seas and offshore information.

Building a Weather Plan Before Departure

For each part of the route, note the forecast area, issuing service, product name, units and intended reception method. Include the issue time when recording a forecast. Check that the planned reception method provides the material you need, and consider another way to obtain it if that method becomes unavailable.

The offshore vessels guide discusses communication equipment and passage preparation. Use this forecast outline alongside that planning: knowing how a radio operates and knowing which forecast applies are separate tasks, and both deserve attention before departure.