A gale warning is the point at which a recreational boater's decision is already made: stay in. It is issued when sustained winds of 34 to 47 knots, or 39 to 54 miles per hour, are expected, and those conditions are dangerous for most vessels that are not built and crewed for heavy weather.
Sustained is the important word. The figure describes the steady wind, not the gusts, and gusts in a gale run well above it. Wind of that strength also builds a serious sea. Given enough open water it produces steep, breaking waves, blown spray that cuts visibility, and a surface that will not settle for hours after the wind eases, so the sea you meet on the way home can be worse than the one that was there when the warning was issued.
A gale warning sits above a small craft advisory, which covers the lower band of rough conditions. If you are already out when one is issued, the safe move is to shorten the trip, not to press on. Head for the nearest protected water rather than the destination you planned, get lifejackets on before the conditions arrive, and treat an inlet or bar crossing as the most dangerous part of the return.
Warnings are issued in advance, so the useful habit is checking the forecast the night before and again before you leave the dock. Our guide covers what a gale warning means for your boat in more detail.
