Shipping Forecast

The Shipping Forecast is a regular feature of BBC Radio 4 and is provided by the UK Meteorological Office on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Because of its unique and distinctive sound, it has an appeal much wider than to those solely interested in nautical weather, and is regarded with affection by many listeners. It is broadcast four times a day and consists of reports and forecasts of weather for the seas around the British coast.

Related Topics:
BBC Radio 4 - UK Meteorological Office - Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Weather - British

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The waters around the British Isles are divided into sea areas, also known as weather areas (see map below).

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Broadcasts are at 0535 (FM and longwave), 1201 (LW only), 1754 (LW only, except weekends) and 0048 (FM and LW). The 0535 and 0048 reports include weather reports from coastal stations after the main forecast, and the 0048 forecast is unique in being the only one to feature sea area Trafalgar.

Related Topics:
FM - Longwave

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Here are the sea areas covering the waters around the British Isles:

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Areas are always named in a roughly clockwise direction, in the order above.

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The forecast has a very strict format. It begins with gale warnings (winds of force 8 or more, on the Beaufort scale), if any (e.g. There are warnings of gales in Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, and Fair Isle). The General Synopsis follows, giving the position, pressure (in millibars) and track of pressure areas (e.g. Low, Rockall, 987, deepening rapidly, expected Fair Isle 964 by 0700 tomorrow) then each area's forecast is read out. Several areas may be combined into a single forecast where the conditions are expected to be similar. Wind direction is given first, then strength (on the Beaufort scale), followed by precipitation, if any, and (usually) lastly visibility. Change in wind direction is indicated by veering (clockwise change) or backing (anticlockwise change). Winds of above force 8 are also described by name (see Beaufort scale) for emphasis.

Related Topics:
Beaufort scale - Millibar

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When severe winter cold combines with strong winds, icing can occur, normally only in sea area Southeast Iceland; if expected, icing warnings (light, moderate or severe) are given as the last item of each sea area forecast. The order that the areas appear in the forecast is fixed. The forecast has a maximum length of 350 words.

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In addition, gale warnings are broadcast at other times between programmes and after news; for example That's the news, and now attention all shipping, especially in areas German Bight and Humber. The Met Office issued the following gale warning to shipping at 2206 today. German Bight, west or northwest gale 8 to storm 10, expected imminent. Humber, west gale 8 or severe gale 9, expected soon. That completes the gale warning.

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Examples of area forecasts:

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:*Humber, Thames. Southeast veering southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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:*Tyne, Dogger. Northeast 3 or 4. Occasional rain. Moderate or poor.

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:*Rockall, Malin, Hebrides. Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, veering west, severe gale 9 to violent storm 11. Rain, then squally showers. Poor, becoming moderate.

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:*Southeast Iceland. North 7 to severe gale 9. Heavy snow showers. Good, becoming poor in showers. Moderate icing.

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And most spectacularly, on 10 January 1993, when a record North Atlantic low pressure of 913 mB was recorded:

Related Topics:
10 January - 1993

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:*Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey. Southwest hurricane force 12 or more.

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With the information provided in the Shipping Forecast it is perfectly possible to compile (and then interpret) a pressure chart for the coasts of North Western Europe. Extended shipping forecasts (0535 and 0048) also include weather reports from a list of additional coastal stations and automatic weather logging stations, which are known by their names, such as "Channel Light Vessel Automatic". These are the Coastal Weather Stations. This additional information does not fall within the 350 word restriction.

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Other maritime countries also use sea area maps but with local variations. For instance, the area that the British forecasts call Dover is referred to by the French as Pas-de-Calais.

Related Topics:
Dover - Pas-de-Calais

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The reason for choosing BBC Radio 4 for the Shipping Forecast is not simply because it is a speech-based channel, but also because it broadcasts via longwave as well as FM, and the longwave signal can be received clearly at sea all around the British Isles. For this reason, until 1978 the Shipping Forecast was broadcast on the Light Programme and Radio 2, as they broadcast on longwave and the Home Service and Radio 4 were on medium wave.

Related Topics:
Longwave - FM - British Isles - 1978 - Light Programme - Radio 2 - Home Service - Medium wave

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The last broadcast of the Shipping Forecast at 0048 each day is traditionally preceded by the playing of the musical piece Sailing By, a mellow string arrangement by Ronald Binge. This is only very rarely omitted, generally when the schedule is running late. Sailing By serves as a "buffer" to ensure mildly late running schedules do not impinge on the late forecast, as well as being a vital identification tool - it is distinctive and as such assists anyone attempting to tune in. The forecast is then followed by the National anthem and the closedown of the station for the day, with the World Service taking over the frequencies.

Related Topics:
Sailing By - Ronald Binge - National anthem

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Part of the Shipping Forecast's charm is that it is read at dictation speed by Radio 4 continuity announcers, whose speaking voices have devoted fans.

Related Topics:
Dictation - Continuity announcer

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The evocation is enhanced by the fact that stormy weather is always announced first, with the introduction "There are warnings of gales in...." directing the listener's thoughts to the ships in those areas, and the people whose lives might depend on the following words. Many listeners to the 0048 and 0535 forecasts find it comforting that they are safely tucked up in bed while there is stormy weather at sea.

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