Marine Weather Information Guide. See https://www.vos.noaa.gov/docs/marine_info_guide.pdf

All are important sources. Historically there was climatic data in the appendix but that has been moved to other sections; the Appendix still lists sources of weather data and important frequencies.

This is the only one. Others have limited data just at the reporting station location, and it is rare or hard to find where these other sites refer to the archived data elsewhere. NDBC archives only their station data.

NGA (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency).

Pilot charts. They provide both a quick look at High locations and specific wind probabilities. Now days, we should also look at the Climate Forecast System model forecasts, which extend out to 6 months. See glossary.

Beaufort force numbers, with each feather being one number. See Pilot Chart in the glossary, and fig 8.2-4 in the text.

All provide the data. Bowditch is a quick look up, Modern Marine Weather includes corrections to the Bowditch data, the NHC is the most comprehensive. The Starpath Weather Trainer software program also has a thorough presentation of this data that is very easy to use.

See starpath.com/navpubs

NOAA weather radio is still, even in 2026, likely the most commonly used and most dependable. Cellular connections are getting better in some areas, and satellite internet such as StarLink are attractive services these days using the RV account option.

At present there is no source that replaces listening to VHF weather on inland and coastal waters.

Navtxt stations are on land and broadcast on a medium frequency AM signal that is dependable out to about 200 miles of shore. We can get the content via various email requests, but the question is about the radio broadcast reception.