The document provides information about weather forecasts available for use at sea, including: 1) Details on the Shipping Forecast broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and regional radio stations at various times. 2) An overview of the content of shipping forecasts, including gale warnings, area forecasts, wind speeds, sea states and visibility. 3) A glossary defining terms used in forecasts like pressure trends and wind speeds. 4) References to other online weather resources providing additional coastal and marine forecasts.

1. Weather Forecasts for use at Sea Quick Guide

2. The Shipping Forecast BBC Radio 4: (198 kHz + FM) 0048 (LW, FM) 0520 (LW, FM) 1200 (LW) 1755 (LW) BBC Radio Solent: (96.1 MHz) Every ½ hour 0600 - 1300 IOW Radio: (107 MHz) 0630 0730 0830 1630 1730 1830 1900 Solent Coastguard: (VHF Ch 16) 0040, 0440, 0840, 1240, 1640, 2040 UTC http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine/shipping_forecast.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast/shipping/ http://www.rya.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/8B4C46FA-6FFB-43A9-AB3A-D867D2BD21D2/0/Met_Maps.pdf

5. Glossary TIME Soon: within 6 hours of forecast Imminent: 6-12 hours Later: 12-24 hours VISIBILITY Very Poor: less than 1,000m Poor: 1,000 m to 2 miles Moderate: 2 to 5 miles Good: greater than 5 miles PRESSURE Rising or Falling Slowly: 0.1 to 1.5 mb in 3 hours Rising or Falling: 1.6 to 3.5 mb in 3 hours Rising or Falling Quickly: 3.6 to 6.0 mb in 3 hours Rising or Faling Very Quickly: more than 6.0 mb in 3 hours SYSTEM MOVEMENT Slowly: < 15 knots Steadily: 15 – 25 knots Rather Quickly: 25 – 35 knots Rapidly: 35 – 45 knots Very Rapidly: 45 knots+ WIND Veering – wind change clockwise Backing – wind change anticlockwise Cyclonic – large change over area e.g. centre of depression

6. Admiral Beaufort’s Scale Hurricane Force 63 + 12 Violent Storm 55 – 63 11 Storm 47 – 55 10 Strong Gale 40 – 47 9 Gale 33 – 40 8 Near Gale 27 – 33 7 Strong Breeze 21 – 27 6 Fresh Breeze 16 – 21 5 Moderate Breeze 10 – 16 4 Gentle Breeze 6 - 10 3 Light Breeze 3 - 6 2 Light Airs 1 - 3 1 Description Wind Speeds Force

7. Captain Douglas R.N.’s Scale As used in the Inshore Waters Forecast Storm Force 10 Sea State Very High

8. Other Useful Forecasts windguru.cz – kitesurfing – good for coastal wind speeds and temperature xcweather.co.uk – aviation site – windspeeds and weather bbc.co.uk/weather – do you need the factor 15 or your oilies?