Shipping Forecast
General Situation
At 12:00UTC high, 1030mb, Biscay, expected 1031mb, near Hamburg by Friday.
15.4°C
Sea Temperature
Understanding the Forecast
The wind speed is given in the Beaufort Scale on an 8 point compass with a variability of +-45°. Terms commonly used in association with the wind and other parts of the forecast include:
Veering - a change of wind in the clockwise sense (up to 180°)
Backing – a change of wind in the anticlockwise sense (up to 180°)
At first – within the first 12 hours
Later – within the latter 12 hours
Occasional/occasionally – lasts less than half the time (location or time specific)
At times – non-persistent (lasts more than half the forecast period)
For a time – a transient state
Waves or sea state is the forecast of the mean of the largest 7% of combined wind and swell waves. Wind waves are locally produced waves; swell waves are produced by distant strong winds. Sea state descriptions equate to the following wave heights:
Description | Height |
|---|---|
Smooth | < 0.5m |
Slight | 0.5 - 1.25m |
Moderate | 1.25 - 2.5m |
Rough | 2.5 - 4.0m |
Very Rough | 4.0 - 6.0m |
High | 6.0 - 9.0m |
Very High | 9.0 - 14.0m |
Phenomenal | > 14m |
Visibility measurements equate to the following distances in nautical miles and kilometers:
Description | Distance N.Mi | Distance Km |
|---|---|---|
Good | > 5 n.mi | > 10 km |
Moderate | 2 - 5 n.mi | 3.7 - 9 km |
Poor | 0.6 - 2 n.mi | 1.0 - 3.7 km |
Very Poor | < 0.6 n.mi | < 1000 m |
