Premium Rate (recorded) Telephone/fax 

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NAVTEX - 518 kHz; the International NAVTEX frequency.

Under GMDSS provisions, NAVTEX stations, typically, broadcast  24 hour forecasts, warnings and a brief outlook for Shipping Forecast Sea Areas,  twice a day.  UK NAVTEX stations broadcast an outlook for a further 3 days, once a day.  See the NAVTEX page for details and click here for sea areas in METAREAs I, II and III.  Some countries broadcast more often, some do not include an outlook,  some may give a longer outlook.

NAVTEX is designed to be used from the fairway buoy up to about 300 miles range.   Importantly,  being automatic, forecasts should not be missed `- except, at times,  when near the coast and in some harbours.  On 518 kHz, the information will always appear in English.  For comments and advice on NAVTEX reception click here.

For texts of  UK and other country's NAVTEX forecasts go to my GMDSS page.

NAVTEX - 490 kHz.  This is the NAVTEX frequency for national use.

UK stations broadcast forecasts, warnings and a brief three day outlook for Inshore Waters, twice a day.  Sample texts can be seen at the Met Office site.  The

use of 490 kHz varies from country to country. In France, for example, it is currently used for French language versions of information on 518 kHz

Coastguard MRCC/MRSCs  - on  Marine MF and VHF Channels.

UK MRCC/MRSC stations broadcast Inshore Waters forecasts 3 - hourly,  updated 4 times a day.  Texts are as on NAVTEX (490 kHz) although the outlook may not be broadcast if there is insufficient time.  NOTE. See revised schedules as from 1 Feb 2007.

There can be reception problems, for example in some rivers and harbours. If you listen and do not hear the broadcast, then call up the Coastguard and ask for a repeat on an aerial that you may hear. BUT please do not simply forget and then call asking for the "latest weather". Even our amazingly patient Coastguards can get short tempered if so provoked.

The broadcasts include the latest shipping forecasts for the adjacent sea areas and any gale or strong wind

warnings. A major strength is that when strong wind warnings (Force 6+) are in force then the Coastguard repeat the warning every two hours. Thus, there is  a two hourly weather update.  A major weakness is that, being VHF transmissions, reception cannot be guaranteed over about 20 miles offshore.

Many other countries have similar services.  The terminology tends to be more formal than on National radio and the delivery often slower.  Because English is the international marine language, they may well be in English as well as the national language broadcasts.  For an exhaustive list of French terminology click  here .

For details of several European  schedules see my MRCC page .

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INMARSAT-C, satellite broadcasts

High seas areas forecasts are broadcast under the GMDSS twice a  day.  For links to texts anywhere in the world go to my  GMDSS page

HF and HF/SSB

Voice broadcasts in French and English for North Atlantic and the Mediterranean ( Monaco 3AC on HF/SSB) and in French from the English Channel approaches to the Caribbean (Radio France

Internationale on HF).  Go to the GMDSS page for a link with details of times and frequencies. See my French page for the terminology

SSB - Radio Fax  and Radio Teletype

Synoptic charts are available out to 5 days ahead, wave and swell charts for two days from Offenbach and Northwood.  Northwood charts have isobars and wind vectors (for winds > 25 kn).  Although very old technology, many other countries still have Radio Fax services

Offenbach Radio Teleprinter RTTY broadcasts gives spot forecasts up to 5 days ahead. Covers Northern N Atlantic, Baltic, North Sea, English Channel, Mediterranean and the Black sea.  

For the Mediterranean there is also a 24 hour area forecast. For the Baltic and north Sea there are Sea Area and Inshore Waters forecasts. For notes on radio teleprinter reception click here and, for an  example message click here. 

For European Radio Fax and RTTY schedules see links at the GMDSS page. 

RadioFax frequencies world wide can be found at the NOAA Guide to world-wide radio-fax broadcasts:

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BBC Radio 4 Shipping Forecast

Broadcast daily on 198 kHz LW at  0048 *, 0520 *, 1201 and 1754.LT (* These  broadcasts are also on FM and MW.)  Sea area Trafalgar is included only in the 0048 Shipping forecast. On Sundays at 0542 a seven day forecast for all sea areas is broadcast on LW, FM and MW frequencies. Sea area maps can be found  elsewhere on this site

A few weather observations are broadcast after the 0048 and 0520 Shipping forecasts. These give the actual wind direction and force, weather, visibility, pressure and tendency at 2300 and 0400 LT respectively for the following locations: Tiree, Stornoway, Lerwick, Fife Ness, Bridlington, Sandettie Lt Vessel *, Greenwich Lt Vessel *, Jersey, Channel Lt Vessel *, Scilly *, Valentia, Ronaldsway and Malin Head.  * Automatic weather station.

Produced by Met Office, this is an important source of

forecasts for yachtsmen at sea. Being broadcast on 198 kHz, it can be  received over a very wide area, even in the deep Rias of Spain where little else can be heard.  Very usefully, it is updated 4 times a day.  This makes it a useful indicator of  changes in the weather and, importantly, changes in the forecast.

The main weakness is that the time constraint  imposed by the BBC makes the forecast very broad brush. Effects of headlands and other coastal features are largely ignored except when they may lead to gale force winds. Then, such words as "locally gale 8" or "gale 8 at times" may appear.

Another major weakness for yachts is that the period only covers 24 hours from broadcast time. On longer passages this really is not sufficient. This problem is addressed through the medium of NAVTEX.

BBC Radio 4 Inshore Waters

A rather broad brush, 9 area version is broadcast  after the 0046 Shipping Forecast. A 17 area 24 hour forecast is broadcast after the 0520 Shipping  Forecast.  The latter  uses the same text as the  HMCG VHF or NAVTEX (490 kHz) forecast.

LW and MW from other countries.

There are similar broadcasts from other countries eg the Bulletins au large broadcast by French radio.  These require a reasonable understanding of the weather terminology of the language used.  However, with practice and patience most of the words used will

become fairly clear. I understand that the German service is very good and useful in the Southern Baltic and Northern North Sea. Details are in the almanacs. Be careful because schedules can vary at short notice at the whim of the station controller.

Local radio

Variable,  much can depend greatly on station controller and duty disc jockey.  Some are very good, others are

less helpful.  Try them and see, but do not rely upon getting the same service on another occasion.

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MarineCall™ telephone recorded message and telefax services providing Met Office forecasts

All these services now come through MarineCall™  (iTouch) over telephone lines using 09060, 09065 and 09068 numbers. Voice information is on 09068 500 numbers.  Telefax services are on 09060 100 and 09065 300 numbers

Full details can be found at the MarineCall website.

The 2 day forecasts are updated twice a day at about 0700 and 1900 local time. (Channel Islands version - updated 3 times a day).  The 2 - 5 day planners are updated once a day at about 0700.  Around these times it is worth waiting a while to ensure that you do get the latest forecast. You may feel cheated to spend £8 for a forecast that is 24 hours out of date.

Weatherweb Marine Fax

This is the same as MetFax Marine with  forecasts updated twice daily, out to 5 days ahead. Area codes can be found at Weatherweb Codes page.

 Or just dial 0871 504 6886 and listen. There is a help line on 08700 738 100. The main website is at WeatherwebMarine 

Le Mer sur 08 MÉTÉO and similar services

Météo France service for access by telephone. Warnings, synopsis, forecasts and outlook for 5 days.

Cost similar to MarineCall.  Other countries have similar services.

Navimail  - Météo France Fax, telephone and Internet service.

For details of this very comprehensive and largely on repayment service, see le guide marine,

Short Message Service (SMS and/or WAP).

Some very specific, short period forecasts are produced from a combination of output from the Met Office meso-scale (very short period, high resolution) forecast model combined with satellite and radar information.

The service is in a state of flux.  See the  Met Office site  for details.  Forecasts can only be for very short periods and should be interpreted rather more generally than the specific locations referred to.

Telephone briefing - consultancy including weather routing

The most expensive type of service available but, in some circumstances, worth every penny. UK Met Office, call 08700 767 888 (local call rates), from the Continent call +44 8700 767 888 (In the Western Mediterranean dial + 44 (0) 8700767 818 and follow the worded instructions which include having your credit card details to hand. By this means you can speak to forecasters specializing in marine weather.  Cost is about £17 per call. It is also possible to get Fax charts and forecasts in the same way at about the same cost as MetFax - dial the same number and follow the instructions..

Importantly, because these are not premium rated calls you can use a PTT telephone in any country or a mobile without prior arrangement. If you are using a pay phone with cash rather than a card, then make sure that you have enough money available or you may have to reconnect and get charged twice.

An alternative is from the private company

WeatherwebMarine. The  Weather LIVE - Talk live to a forecaster service is available 7 days a  week ()800 to 1800 UK time).  Services include routing advice. Call 09061 991 189 from within the UK. Calls cost £1.50 per minute. Operates 8 am to 6 pm. From outside the UK call +44 8700 738 100, payment via credit card, costs £12. Again, a plus is that the service is available through any PTT.

Another private firm that specializes in routing is MetWorks Ltd run by my old friend, Captain Gordon Mackie, formerly Marine Superintendent of the Met Office.  Gordon will route yachts as well as commercial shipping.

The above is far from exhaustive as this is a developing field of activity.  There are many good services and some, no doubt, not so good.  Before using a service, ensure that you know that the provider is using data and forecast products from reputable sources - preferably more than one.

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Internet

 Many and various, see Frank Singleton's Essential Weather Sites for Sailors.

A very useful site is the Weatherweb site which provides a variety of forecast products including weather routeing advice on a commercial basis. They have free WAP services. On their site there are links to free weather forecasts. Areas covered are the British Isles, Western coasts of Europe down to the Canary Isles and coasts of the Western Mediterranean.

There are short period forecasts and planning forecasts out to 5 days. Some texts are straight copies of UK and

other National Weather Service products, others are produced by Weatherweb forecasters. Three are also links to UK Met Office charts and satellite images. All in all a very useful service. My only gripe is that forecasts are claimed to be "accurate"! As an old pro, I regard this as over-hyping what is, clearly, a good and useful service.

 email using GSM, GPRS, Satellite phone or HF/HAM radio

Movingweather Météo France, and Météo Consult  as well as a number of other companies offer email services on repayment, often using GRIB code. Saildocs, GMN and MailASail provide US NWS GRIB coded information FREE over GSM, GPRS satellite phone and HF radio links. 

NWS Washington provides GMDSS texts by email (free) on request.  Texts can also be obtained from Saildocs

and MailASail either  by individual request  or as a service for any period that you wish.   See the email   and the Internet Connection pages for more details and links. See the Winlink and SailMail sites for information on HF use. 

Again, the above is far from exhaustive as this is a developing field of activity.  There are many good services and some, no doubt, not so good.

Internet, FREEPHONE and SMS, Mediterranean

The Pan MED forecast is free. Charges for viewing the multi day forecasts and synoptic charts via the web are 2€   (£1.40) for unlimited access. To use the FREEPHONE service simply dial 0800 9000 51 in France and follow the instructions;
To receive forecasts and warnings via SMS you can

either - Type MET (area code) and SEND to 80160 or use the site to request warnings to be sent to your mobile phone for the dates you select. SMS charges are 2€  (£1.40) for each warning or wave height list. Prices include VAT.

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Marina and Yacht Club displays

UK marinas often display MetFax/ MarineCall forecasts. In France, sometimes there are texts of CROSS broadcasts, but more often private Met Firms.  One of these, Météorem often seems to differ

  greatly from Météo France.  I have always found that Météo France gave the better guidance. Check the date of issue.  Some marinas will get a 5 day forecast and not update it for 5 days!

HF - NETS

These can be useful although they are only regurgitating information that is readily available. Obviously, much depends upon the person  running the net. Herb has a great reputation for those on Atlantic crossings.

Remember that a yacht averaging 110 to 130 NM a day has very limited ability to avoid bad weather. The systems are large and the boat is too slow to get around them.  For a list of frequencies, schedules and areas covered click here.

Private Met  companies

Variable quality. Some quite professional. Others less so.

Newspapers

Last resort! Remember that it was probably printed yesterday. Often by private Met firms.

TV

Variable in scope and detail. Can be useful for planning - especially the BBC Sunday farming forecast which is broadcast on a Sunday and updated during the week.

Video text (CEEFAX, ITV versions)

Infrequent updating. Can be private Met companies e.g. OceanRoutes and may differ from the "official" National Met Service forecast.