Swell-Forecast.com - European SURF forecasting

Shipping Bulletins

These are text reports, derived from the traditional marine forecasts received by radio. Their most useful feature is that they give an accurate prediction of the local wind for the next 24 hours.

The wind strength is normally given in the Beaufort scale, force 0 to 12, where 12 is about 64 knots (hurricane force). These reports also give other information including real-time observations (not predictions) of wind conditions at certain coastal locations. The Spanish bulletin also gives local wave observations. This is useful for seeing what the conditions were a short time ago, and for comparing one part of the coast with another.

The UK shipping forecast is divided up into a number of areas which can be seen below. For the Bay of Biscay, for example, see the report for area Biscay.