OPC Marine Forecast Zone Changes

Effective on Tue, March 3, 2026, at 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), 2100 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the Ocean Prediction Center will change Marine Forecast Zones encompassing its Atlantic offshore waters. Upon implementation of this change, all offshore marine forecasts will use the zone numbers and names listed below.

If March 3, 2026 is declared a Critical Weather Day, this implementation will be postponed to March 4, 2026 at 2100 UTC.

Other changes occurring at the same time involve near shore marine zones, with the outer extent expanding from approximately 40 NM offshore to 60 NM offshore. These marine zones areas are forecast by Weather Forecast Offices and for details please see SCN-25-XX, SUBJECT: Changes to Marine Zones for NWS Weather Forecast Offices From Caribou, ME to Charleston, SC Effective March 3, 2026, which also contains graphical depictions of the changes.

These changes have been coordinated with partnering agencies and are part of a National Weather Service effort to make the offshore extent of coastal marine zones consistent throughout the conterminous United States.

CURRENT Marine zones:

PROPOSED Marine zones: