Shipping Forecast
A maritime weather broadcast provided by the UK Met Office, offering vital information on sea conditions, wind, and visibility for seafarers in British and nearby waters.
The Shipping Forecast is an essential service for mariners, providing concise and reliable weather updates for the safety of those navigating the seas around the British Isles. It is broadcast by the UK Met Office and transmitted via BBC Radio 4, ensuring wide accessibility to seafarers and coastal communities. The forecast is divided into distinct sea areas, such as “Dogger,” “Fisher,” and “German Bight,” which are predefined zones covering the waters around the UK and parts of Northern Europe. Each broadcast includes information on wind direction and strength (using the Beaufort scale), sea state, weather conditions, and visibility.
The Shipping Forecast has a unique structure and rhythm, designed to be easily understood even in challenging conditions at sea. It is broadcast four times daily, with the 0048 broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Long Wave being particularly iconic. The service is not only a practical tool for maritime safety but has also become a cultural institution in the UK, appreciated for its poetic and evocative language. For seafarers, the Shipping Forecast is a lifeline, helping them anticipate and prepare for potentially hazardous conditions, while for many listeners on land, it evokes the romance and perils of life at sea.
Forecast Content
For sea areas surrounding the UK, the Shipping Forecast always begins with any gale warnings, followed by a concise general synopsis of the larger weather systems. It then lists each sea area in a clockwise sequence around the British Isles. For every area it gives the forecast wind direction and force (on the Beaufort scale), followed by the expected weather (rain, snow, drizzle, etc.), visibility (good, moderate, poor, fog), and the sea state (e.g. slight, moderate, rough). This structured summary ensures mariners receive timely alerts and detailed conditions for safe passage.
Broadcast Schedule
BBC Radio 4:
0048 – transmitted on FM and LW.
0520 – transmitted on FM and LW.
1201 – normally transmitted on LW only.
1754 – transmitted only on LW on weekdays, but at weekends transmitted on both FM and LW.
