How to read a marine forecast before a passage
A practical sequence for checking zones, warnings, timing, wind, waves and observations before departure.
Marine weather for passage planning
Make sense of the weather before you cast off.
Practical guides for reading marine forecasts, comparing conditions and deciding what questions to ask before a passage. No live routing or personalised forecast is offered yet.
Start with the essentials
Wind and waves: why one number is not enough
A forecast wind speed cannot describe gusts, wave period, direction, route exposure or crew margins.
What to do when marine forecasts disagree
When models diverge, compare issue times and locations, respect official warnings and preserve a way to delay or divert.
A useful briefing starts with context
There is no universal “safe wind speed”. The same forecast can mean different things for different vessels, crews, routes and escape options.
- Check official warnings and the latest local marine forecast.
- Compare the forecast with recent observations and its update time.
- Consider gusts, waves, visibility and the whole route—not one point.
- Leave a margin for uncertainty and a plan to postpone or divert.