Most marinas and launching ramps display warning flags, or lights to indicate severe weather.
Most marinas and launching ramps display warning flags, or lights to indicate severe weather. A bright red pennant, or a red light over a white one, indicates winds up to 38 mph. On the radio it will be called a SMALL CRAFT WARNING, meaning small vessels should not venture out. When two red pennants are flown, or at night, a white light over red, it means gale force winds (up to 54 mph) are expected. This means to the dive team that they should stay at the station. A red square flag with a black square in the center, or two red lights on top of each other means TROPICAL STORM or a STORM WARNING is in effect, these are winds up to 74 mph.
Finally two red square flags, with a black center square, or at night a red light, over white, over red means HURRICANE, winds over 74 mph. To the dive team this mean gather up the gear and wait for it to blow over because you will probably have a big job ahead after the storm.
