Shipping Forecast
General Situation
At 18:00UTC high, 1036mb, just west of Biscay, expected to decline westwards. Low, 979mb, just northeast of Iceland, expected to move northeast and deepen. Associated fronts affecting the area at times.
10.8°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 |
