Storm Signal flags (U.S.)

Last modified: 2006-01-21 by rick wyatt
Keywords: united states | storm signals | gale | hurricane |
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image by Rick Wyatt, 6 August 1999

Hurricane Flag
image by Antonio Martins, 15 August 1999
Gale Pennant

• Description

See also:

• Former U.S. Signal Service
• United States of America

Description

Each U.S. Storm Signal Set consists of 2 Hurricane Flags and 2 Gale Pennants. They are used as follows:

	Type	Wind Speed
1 pennant	small craft warning	up to 38 mph
2 pennants	gale warning	39-54 mph
1 flag	storm/whole gale warning	55-73 mph
2 flags	hurricane warning	74+ mph

In this day and age of satellite communications and instant information, these flags are no longer used by the government. However, individuals and marinas still use them.
Rick Wyatt, 6 August 1999