Weather Information Services

There are many sources of weather information ranging from local and national radio programmes broadcasting shipping forecasts, inshore forecasts, and land based weather reports. Other forecasts can be had here by VHF radio, phone, fax, online websites, SMS, WAP, and MMS.

Photo: Peter Mumford - Beken of Cowes

SOLENT COASTGUARD

Solent and Portland MRCCs (Channels VHF 23, VHF 84, VHF 86):

0130 (B)  0430 (C)  0730 (A)  1030 (C)  1330 (B)  1630 (C)  1930 (A) 2230 (C). All times are clock time.

Schedule A - Full Maritime Safety Information broadcast, including new Inshore Forecast, Gale Warnings, Shipping Forecast, WZ Navigation Warnings, SUBFACTS & GUNFACTS where appropriate, three day Fisherman's Forecast when and where appropriate.

Schedule B - New Inshore Forecast + previous Outlook*, Gale Warnings.

Schedule C - Repetition of Inshore Forecast and Gale Warnings as per previous Schedule A or B broadcast plus new strong wind warning (SWW).

*Note: the 'interim' forecast provided in Schedule B does not include an updated outlook. The previous outlook will therefore be provided with this 'interim' forecast and repetition broadcast.

BBC SHIPPING FORECAST

BBC RADIO 4 Long Wave 1515m (198 kHz)

Times:  0048  0520  1201  1754  (local time)

The shipping forecast gives a summary of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and area forecasts for specified sea areas. The radio bulletin also includes the coastal weather reports (0048 and 0536 only).

RADIO SOLENT Tel: 023 8063 1311

FM 96.1MHz, MW 999 kHz  Poole to Chichester 

FM 103.8MHz, MW 1359 kHz  Poole to Lyme Regis

Also available on DAB Digital Radio in Hampshire and Dorset.

Monday - Friday: Weather Summary 0630, 0700, and on the half hour during the day until midnight.

Saturday and Sunday: Weather Summary 0600, 0630, and on the half hour until 1300.

ISLE OF WIGHT RADIO Tel: 01983 822557

FM 107, FM 102 (Ventnor area)

General weather reports hourly 0600 - 1900.

Coastal reports with tide times and weather:  0630  0730  0830  1630  1730  1830  1900