Weather forecast – digimap.gg

I am often asked what Weather Forecast sites I recommend. So here are my personal recommendations.

Windfinder

Recently much improved and provides everything you could need. www.windfinder.com/forecast/guernsey
It provides impressive information including wave heights and is free of charge. Works well as an App and there is a pro version for Android.

The Map screen is now really good and once you get used to the colours, can be very informative and help you to decide where to go. There is also a Superforecast available which is more accurate but only shows the next 3 days.

Windguru

www.windguru.cz/ – tried and tested and works well. The GFS27km will give a 10-day forecast and the WRF 9km will provide a more detailed forecast for the new 3 days. It is available free or for an annual subscription which provides more up to date and better data. Not expensive so a worthwhile investment for a serious boater.

If you subscribe – you can set up “My Forecasts” which are sets of forecasts. I have sets of GFS27 and the same places for WRF9 so I can look long term and short term. For example, I have a Northern Brittany dataset with

Guernsey
Jersey South Buoy
Carteret
Granville
Saint Malo
Saint Cast
Saint Quay
Lannion

This provides a really good indication of where the calmest weather is.

Rain – The Government of Jersey have a new rain radar which is very good – www.jerseymet.gov.je/Radar/Radar.html

Channel Islands Shipping Forecast

The local shipping weather forecast produced by the Jersey Met office, ideal for the last 2 days leading up to a trip – www.jerseymet.gov.je/forecast/jersey/shi…

Wind and Waves – Port of Jersey wind and wave information – a useful site – www.portofjersey.je/Pages/weather.aspx

Other information

I have often wondered what Force 5 in the “North” means in the Channel Islands. Sounds like F5 in the Vale parish, but could be Alderney. A recent response to Martin Nickolls’ letter included the following information:
“The CI Shipping forecast area extends about 100 miles from latitude 50 degrees north to the Brittany coast. Often the wind speed in mid Channel (the north of the area) and near the Brittany coast (the south of the area) differ by two Beaufort forces, the difference between a safe passage or danger for a smaller boat.”

Current reports from Data Buoys
General – www.ndbc.noaa.gov/obs.shtml?lat=49.61782……
South of Jersey – www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?stati…
Channel Lightship – www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?stati…
Ouessant wave buoy – www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?stati…

Wave information

When they say Moderate becoming Slight – what do they mean?
Smooth — Wave height less than 0.5 m
Slight — Wave height of 0.5 to 1.25 m
Moderate — Wave height of 1.25 to 2.5 m
Rough — Wave height of 2.5 to 4.0 m
Very rough — Wave height of 4.0 to 6.0 m
High — Wave height of 6.0 to 9.0 m
Very high — Wave height of 9.0 to 14.0 m
Phenomenal — Wave height more than 14.0 m

Other sites people like

Great weather charts – Frank Singleton
weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather/Lat……

Surf Reports – surf-reports.com/Guernsey/

www.myweather2.com/Marine/Global-Ports/U……

There are lots of other sites. Some people like meteo consult but even though I subscribed to it – I found the results poor – marine.meteoconsult.co.uk/marine-weather…