Keeping an Eye to the Sky: Hurricane Season Tips for Coastal Boaters
- Dave LeGear
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Well, sports fans, it is Hurricane season again. And as Brother Jimmy (RIP) says so eloquently in the tune below, it's time we start "Keeping an eye to the Sky" again, now that we are "Trying the reason with Hurricane Season," which many of us Worldwide have to cope with here in Florida on Flats Nation for about half of the year...
Simply love that version of his tune for sure!
2026 Update: Hurricane season is back, and for those of us who live, fish, trailer, launch, and work around coastal water, this is the time of year when “Keeping an eye to the sky” becomes more than just a saying.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, and the National Hurricane Center remains the best starting point for checking tropical development across the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf.
Hurricane Season Tips, Know the Forecast Cone:
NOAA’s 2026 Hurricane Season outlook calls for a below-normal Atlantic season, with 8–14 named storms, 3–6 hurricanes, and 1–3 major hurricanes forecast. That sounds better than an above-normal forecast, but no one on the coast should treat that as a free pass.
It only takes one storm, one bad tide cycle, one missed trailer repair, or one “I’ll handle it tomorrow” moment to make life interesting (Been There, Done That) in all the wrong ways...
The National Hurricane Center’s Tropical Weather Outlook (now updated with even better graphics) is still one of the cleanest and fastest ways to see what may be brewing without having to dig through noise, ads, hype, political agendas or somebody’s cousin’s Facebook weather forecast.
For boaters, anglers, coastal homeowners, and anyone who lives near tidal water, and as Hurricane Season Tips. I would track the 2-day and then clink 7-day outlook pages. The 2-day view gives you the immediate picture, while the 7-day outlook gives you a better early warning window before a system becomes the main event.
The NHC Tropical Weather Outlook Should Be Bookmarked:
To this end, there are plenty of Sites and Phone Applications one can use to keep an eye on the sky, as I like to say. But, finding one without having to dig through a lot of extras, to reach what one needs to know quickly is not always easy! This link below needs to be and either save it in an important bookmark folder. This or as I do, have it as favorite block on my default browser home page, or a new tab is opened. Here is that link below:
So, faster than you can take a sip of Java in the morning (or afternoon for a quick pick me up), I think you will find this Site link above the best one just for such, and already paid for access via our Tax dollars at work!
With just one click, you can swiftly determine if it's time to hitch up the boat, lower the shutters, and fill the bathtub. Both Christmas and hurricanes share a common outcome: if you're not cautious, you'll end up with a tree in the house!
Do not forget about the other tabs on the same page for other sections of storm-prone major bodies of water so you can (also) keep a quick eye on the sky for our friends on the Pacific side of Mexico and other Central American countries (many with great Flats Fishing!)... So, you can also know quickly if something is brewing that could be headed your way! Just hover over them and click. 😉
And even places like Hawaii, which I hear is another awesome place for Bonefishing; you can make a large swing from East to West and view a satellite image across a very large section of the inter-tropical convergence zone if you live there or while making quick trip plans.
Again, it's all free (paid for already via your tax dollars), so you are in the know and quite possibly sooner than most who rely on other means. Hope this helps you know when to go dig out the coolers and grab some ice yourself now 😊
Lastly, for a more in-depth weather forecast for the US and Caribbean locals. Brian over at the Mr. Weatherman YouTube Channel does a great job looking out a few days or more, to help you adjust your plans for your fishing trips and he can be found by clicking here:
Hurricane Season Tips for Coastal Boaters:
For the boating crowd, hurricane prep is not just plywood and bottled water. It is also trailer tires, hubs, winch straps, batteries, bilge pumps, tie-downs, dock lines, insurance photos, registration paperwork, and knowing exactly where the boat is going before everyone else decides to do the same thing at the same time.
If your plan depends on just finding fuel, ice, a working boat ramp, a trailer part, or a spare hub after a storm warning goes up, that is not a plan. That is optimism wearing flip-flops.
The NWS recommends knowing your evacuation zone, building an emergency kit, reviewing a family plan, checking insurance, and understanding watches and warnings before hurricane season starts. NWS kit guidance includes water, non-perishable food, flashlights, first aid supplies, NOAA Weather Radio, documents, pet food, cash, and other essentials
In the meantime,
We invite you to take in a few Flats Nation Podcast Episodes to help "Scratch that Fishing Itch" when working or traveling and you cannot hitch up the Skiff and go by clicking Here:
You can also visit the Flats Nation Media section for podcasts, Sound Bites, and Flats Nation updates in one place. We have some great guests in the works on a wide range of topics and product coverage soon.
And if you want to represent The Nation on or off the water, explore the Flats Nation Store for performance wear, merch, and coastal-ready gear.
Stay Safe, and Many Blessings!
Dave and the Team
