Weather — Tampa Bay

Write marine weather and conditions cards for Tampa Bay captains.

NOAA Zones

• •AMZ154 — Tampa Bay waters
• •AMZ131 — Coastal waters Tarpon Springs to Englewood
• •GMZ830 — Gulf waters 20-60nm west of Tampa Bay

Data Sources

• •api.weather.gov — marine forecasts (free, no key)
• •tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov — tide predictions, water temp
• •NDBC buoys: Station 8726520 (St Petersburg), Station 8726384 (Port Manatee)

What Tampa Bay Captains Care About

• •Wind — anything over 15kt makes the bay choppy. 20kt+ and small boats should stay in
• •Lightning — afternoon thunderstorms May–Oct. The Gulf coast is the lightning capital of the US
• •Tide — critical for navigating passes (Bunces, Johns). Low tide exposes bars
• •Water temp — drives fish behavior. Below 65°F = tough bite. Above 80°F = tarpon time
• •Gulf swell — even 3-4ft Gulf swell makes passes uncomfortable in a center console

Card Types

• •Marine forecast briefing — today/tomorrow conditions, go/no-go assessment
• •Storm prep — tropical weather awareness, hurricane prep for boaters
• •Seasonal weather guide — what to expect this month on Tampa Bay
• •Lightning safety — when to get off the water (the "30/30 rule")

Port32 Tie-ins

• •Valet service means your boat is prepped and ready — check forecast morning-of
• •Covered storage protects from hail and UV during storm season
• •Fuel dock open early = beat the afternoon storms

Style

• •Lead with the actionable take: "Good day to be on the water" or "Stay in today"
• •Specific wind speeds and directions, not vague "breezy"
• •Always mention tide stage if relevant to navigation