Weather

There are various sources of weather information that can be used while constructing a dive plan.
This page is designed to provide weather info and explain how to interpret it.


Weather Forecast Sources:

 The main sources of weather information are:

Get the Latest Forecast Here!!

Get The Latest Sea, Wind And Weather Forecasts

Web Sources:

There are various sources of weather information available on the web
Here are just a few of the more useful ones:


Met Éireann - 3 Day Outlook & 24h Sea Area Forecast



WWW.WindFinder.com - Very Useful 7 Day Forecast



USAF Europe Operational Weather Squadron - Weather Charts up to 5 Days ahead



       

Forecast Map - Shows locations and areas referred to in the sea area forecast

Met Office charts from NOAA NWS


Swell & Wind Direction                                

 Mean Sea Level Pressure


RTÈ Weather Transmission Times:

RTÈ RADIO ONE 88-89 FM


  • 06.02 Sea area forecast
  • 07.55 Morning forecast & outlook for the coming days
  • 12.53 Land & sea area forecast
  • 16.55 Sea area forecast (except Sat and Sun when RTE scheduling decides)
  • 17.55 Evening forecast & outlook for the coming days
  • 23.55 Late night land and sea area forecast

The Sea Area forecasts are the ones that we are most interested in



The Irish Coast Guard Radio Stations:

Irish Coast Guard Radio broadcast Sea Area Forecasts Stations every 3 hours beginning at 1:03am local time. They broadcast a weather announcement on Marine VHF Radio Ch16 where they tell you which VHF Radio working channel to switch to to hear the forecast.

Broadcast times are:- 1:03am, 4:03am, 7:03am, 10:03am, 1:03pm, 4:06pm, 7:03pm, 10:03pm local time.


Gale Warning broadcasts

Gale Warning broadcasts are also preceded by an announcement on Marine VHF Ch16. They are broadcast on receipt and are repeated at the next one of the following times:- 12:33am, 6:33am, 12:33pm and 6:33pm local time.



Weatherdial:

Telephone recorded sea area forecast, small craft warnings and warnings of gales and heavy swell are available by dialling 1550-123-855.

A forecast of conditions on Dublin Bay is included with the general Dublin Forecast. The number is: 1550 123 854. Forecasts and charts by fax are available on Weatherdial Fax by dialling (use tone dial handset on fax) 1570 131 838

Beaufort Scale Of Wind Force
Wind Force Short Description Specifications for use on Land Wind Speed at 10 metres above Level Ground
Knots Metres per second KM per hour

0
Calm
Water like a mirror.
<1
<0.3
<1
1

 Light Air Water ripple into wavelets. 1-3 0.3-1.5 1-5
2

 Light breeze Small wavelets 4-6 1.6-3.3 6-11
3

 Gentle breeze Wavelets, maybe a couple whitecaps. 7-10 3.4-5.4 12-19
4

 Moderate breeze Small waves, whitecaps 11-16 5.5-7.9 20-28
5

 Fresh breeze Medium waves, whitecaps 17-21 8.0-10.7 29-38
6

 Strong breeze Large waves, whitecaps everywhere, a little spray off the water 22-27 10.8-13.8 39-49
7

 Near gale Large waves, whitecaps everywhere, spray off the water 28-33 13.9-17.1 50-61
8

 Gale Big swells of greater length, streaks of white spray from the water 34-40 17.2-20.7 62-74
9

 Strong gale Huge swells, spray everywhere, walking is difficult. 41-47 20.8-24.4 75-88
10

 Storm Huge waves, hard to see, spray everywhere 48-55 24.5-28.4 89-102
11

 Violent storm Very rarely experienced, accompanied by widespread damage 56-63 28.5-32.6 103-117
12

 Hurricane Devastation 64 and over 32.7 and over 117 and over

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