Sometimes the best gadgets are the low-tech ones. When I was a kid, we used to look for the Coastal Warning Display tower before we would head out into marine water. It seemed like there was one at every significant port, and we would look to see how many flags were flying. In our little 20-foot Fiberform cabin cruiser, even one flag usually meant it was a good day to find something to do ashore!

Storm Warning Flags
Small Craft Warning 21-38 mph (18-33 kts)	Gale Warning 39-54 mph (34-47 kts)	Storm Warning 55-73 mph (48-63 kts)	Hurricane Warning 74+ mph (64+ kts)

 
And now, after 18 years, the flags are coming back. Thanks to Captain Richard Rodriguez for the link to Friday’s press release:

The U.S. Coast Guard is re-establishing a Coastal Warning Display program at selected Coast Guard small boat stations throughout the country to warn the public of approaching storm conditions.

Coast Guard stations participated in the National Weather Service’s official Coastal Warning Display program for more than 100 years. The re-establishment of this program, discontinued by the National Weather Service in 1989, reinforces the Coast Guard’s role as lifesavers and visually communicates that citizens should take personal responsibility for individual safety in the face of an approaching storm.

Starting Friday, selected small boat stations will hoist display flags to warn of small craft advisories, gale warnings, storm warnings and hurricane warnings. Residents of coastal communities are urged to tune to National Weather Service radio broadcasts for the latest information when they observe a flag hoisted as part of this program.