Nautical Chart Catalogs are availahle free and give the prices and order- 

 ing information for navigational charts and numerous other useful publi- 

 cations, including Tide Tables and Tidal Currents. The small -craft charts 

 often list many of the same weather information sources as the Marine 

 Weather Service (NWS) charts. Navigational charts are also frequently- 

 available at local marinas and marine supply stores. 



c. NOAA Weather Radio . Use of this service is highly recommended. 

 This service consists of continuous, around-the-clock broadcasts of 4- 

 to 6-minute taped weather messages '. The reports are updated every 2 to 

 3 hours or more frequently if necessary, and are broadcast on one of 

 three high-band FM frequencies - 162.40, 162.475, or 162.55 megahertz. 

 Several different receivers are available and the manufacturers usually 

 provide literature on the system. If more information is required write: 



National Weather Service (Attn: W112X1) 



National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 



Silver Spring, Md. 20910 



d. Direct Contact with National Weather Service . Listed in tele- 

 phone directories of major cities under: U.S. Government; Commerce, 

 Department of; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National 

 Weather Service. 



2. Sources for Historic Data for Planning and Report Writing. 



The National Climatic Center (NCC) collects, processes, and summa- 

 rizes weather records for the United States and many parts of the world. 

 The information is published in many forms by NCC and by the U.S. Govern- 

 ment Printing Office (GPO) . Two publications are particularly useful: 



(a) Local Climatological Data . 



A monthly summary sheet of weather information for each of over 300 

 government -operated weather stations. A yearly summary sheet is also 

 available. This may be ordered from NCC. An annual subscription is 



$3.30. 



(b) Daily Weather Maps . 



Weekly charts for the United States, southern Canada, and northern 

 Mexico. Each set contains seven pages of charts, one for each day, with 

 charts on a page depicting: 



(1) Surface weather conditions 



(2) 500-millibar pressure contours 



(3) Highest and lowest temperatures 



(4) • Precipitation areas and amounts 



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