The Met Office receives
many enquiries about the shipping forecasts that are
broadcast on BBC Radio 4. This is a brief guide to
the main terms used in the forecast, and also as a
reference to the main shipping areas (known as the
coastal waters) surrounding the British Isles.
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Weather bulletins for shipping are broadcast
daily on BBC Radio 4 at the following times:
0048 and 0520 (long wave and FM), 1200 and 1755
(normally long wave only). The bulletins consist
of a gale warning summary, general synopsis,
sea-area forecasts and coastal station reports.
In addition, gale warnings are broadcast at the
first available programme break after receipt.
If this does not coincide with a news bulletin,
the warning will be repeated after the next news
bulletin.
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| Forecasts for inshore waters |
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In addition, some bulletins include a forecast
for all UK inshore waters, as distinct from the
coastal waters. This can be heard on BBC Radio
4 at the end of programmes (approximately 0048),
and on BBC Radio 3 at 0535. The forecast covers
the area up to 12 miles offshore and is for the
period up to 1800 the next day. It includes a
general synopsis, the forecast of wind direction
and force, visibility and weather. The broadcast
on Radio 4 also includes the latest available
reports of wind direction and force, visibility,
sea-level pressure and tendency for approximately
20 stations around the UK.
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