37. Weather Forecast for seafarers.

Information about weather conditions at sea is required for a number of purposes:

• for forecasts and warnings to help ships avoid severe weather conditions

• for forecasts and warnings for offshore operators

• for input to regional and global computer models to predict the future state of the atmosphere

• to monitor the state of the oceans and changes in the ocean climate

• climatological information is also used for other purposes, e.g. design of ships and structures at sea.

A weather forecast for seafarers offers a survey of weather conditions that may be expected in certain places, sea areas and in vicinities of coastal stations within the next 24 hours. A weather forecast is broadcast in radio bulletins and should be monitored by the navigator and transferred to the Weather Forecast Information Sheet.

This Weather Forecast Information Sheet must be made available to all bridge-personnel and studied regularly and closely in order to determine short-range weather conditions and visibility.

Most meteorological or weather reports consist of three principal parts:

Part 1 - Warning (gale, storm, hurricane, fog, sand storm), nil or no warning.

Part 2 - Synopsis of surface weather or weather situation or inference (i.e. description of weather systems such as depressions and anti-cyclones).

Part 3 - Weather forecast: outlook (12 hours) and further outlook (outlook for the next 12 hours).

38. Study the weather reports. Write a short report describing the weather conditions today. Try to mention all the meteorological elements you know. Are the conditions favourable for a sea voyage? Why?

WEATHER REPORT ISSUED BY THE MARINE METEOROLOGICAL CENTER SPLIT ON 08.05.2013 AT 1200 HOURS

WARNING

LIGHT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.

SYNOPSIS

A field of high pressure is staying over the Adriatic, while moist and unstable air is circulating in high levels.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE ADRIATIC FOR THE FIRST 12 HOURS

NW winds 6-12, in the open of the South and Central Adriatic up to 16 knots. Late in the day in the Velebit Channel NE winds 8-16 knots. Sea 2-3. Visibility 20-30 km. Mostly clear with some variable cloud in places, scattered rain or brief isolated rain showers with thunder. A little warmer.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE NEXT 12 HOURS

Mostly clear. In the South Adriatic variably cloudy with a risk of isolated rain showers and thunder. Light to moderate NW, in the Velebit Channel up to moderate NE winds, diminishing during the forenoon. Sea smooth or slight.

1. Weather forecast for shipping 101700 UTC

   1. Warnings:

Southern Sea of Bothnia and Bay of Bothnia: North to northwest near gale 14 m/s.

2. Strong wind advisory:

Gulf of Finland: West wind 12 m/s. Northern Baltic, Sea of Åland, Sea of Archipelago, Northern Sea of Bothnia and Quark: North to northwest wind 12 m/s.

Inference: Low over Northern Finland moving towards White Sea. Minor low forming east of Baltic states and moving northeast.

3. Forecast for next 24 hours:

Gulf of Finland: Increasing west, from the morning 8-12 m/s. Local showers and thunder, by day mostly good vis.

1. Utsire

   1. Shipping Forecast - Issued: 1625 UTC Mon 10 Jun

Wind Variable 3 or 4.

Sea State In north, moderate becoming rough, occasionally very rough later in west. In south, moderate, occasionally rough in east.

Weather In north, rain or drizzle at times. In south, showers, occasional rain at first. Fog patches.

Visibility Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.