Weather tomorrow

[jeanette]

I am trying to obtain accurate forecasts for tomorrows weather for a trip from Calais to Dover with a barge.

We need a flat or slight sea to cross. Using my access to the internet the MetOffice is clearly showing that there is some wind heading our way.

My problem is that I want to continue to monitor the weather from France (using the mobile only) and the premium rate Marinecall numbers that I have do not work abroad.

Does anyone have any useful direct dial numbers that can be used from France?


<hr width=100% size=1>Jeanette

 

[qsiv]

Waves : not significant (less than 3')
Weather : From Midnight : Clear, becoming cloudy as trough passes, with risk of significant rain
Wins : calm, then filling in from S gently (<10kt), becoming WNW through day, and possibly freshening F3 to 4 by night.

Thats my interpretation - I'll give you something more specific when I've looked at the GRIB data from MeteoFrance, but they are being just a trifle slow at the moment - maybe their server is taking a snooze.

As you're off to France you may like to try this one on the locals:-

How many men does it take to defend Paris?
Answer : Dont know it's never been tried.

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[jeanette]

The Shipping forecast is talking about 4-5 and later possibly 7 in the Channel which is out of the question. I can easily keep an eye on it from the office, but once in France it will be difficult to see anything except yesterdays chart. Judging by the forecasts for the past week, the weather is not settled anywhere in the Atlantic and our only weather windows are likely to be very narrow over the next few weeks.
What I would like to be able to do is keep in close contact with an updated forecast (in English) every 6-8 hours or so over the week-end. All of the Marine call numbers are UK premium rate and cannot be accessed when roaming in France.

<hr width=100% size=1>Jeanette

 

[iangrant]

Ring Solent Coastguard - they will give you the updated forecasts over the phone - They are pleasant and helpful.. Also, tell them when you plan to leave, and don't forget to tell them when you're in safe..

ian

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[Eudorajab]

You should also be able to pick up the CoastGuard bulletins most of the way depending on your radio

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[Twister_Ken]

Agreed, except Dover CG, not Solent. nm

§

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[qsiv]

Interestingly the GRIB differs markedly from the American analysis (which is why I always try to look at two or three sources).

The GRIB data indicates
Time Speed Direction
Fri : 06:00 22 192
Fri 09:00 28 210
12:00 27 255
15:00 28 268
18:00 32 285
21:00 28 300
Sat 00:00 20 280
06:00 15 260
12:00 10 240
18:00 20 240


As for a phone contact - I cant necessaril help, as I tend to use raw data, rather than forecasts.

I would actually venture to suggest that the forecast that you would find stuck in the Capitainerie window at any French port will do you just as well if not better (that is if you will be leaving from a recognised port). If it is Calais itself you should be spoiled - if it was me, I'd wait for an inbound very to berth give them a few minutes to square away the paperwork, and give them a call on VHF, and ask them what the conditions are actuall like. Most I have spoken to are exceedingly helpful. If I'm in the UK and want an objective view, I'll quite often whistle up a pilot boat and ask them - theyre real professionals, working from a small boat. Most pro fisherman OTOH cant bear us yachties, and wont help.

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[Sybarite]

Up to Force 7 for Friday and Saturday. If you need any more info please let me know.


FQQQ41 LFQQ 061126
ORIGINE METEO-FRANCE, BOULOGNE SUR MER
BULLETIN COTE DE LA FRONTIERE BELGE A LA BAIE DE SOMME
---VITESSE DU VENT EN FORCE BEAUFORT---
1) JEUDI 6 MARS 2003 A MIDI

MENACE DE GRAND FRAIS ( FORCE 7 ) A PARTIR DE DEMAIN SOIR ET NUIT DE
VENDREDI A SAMEDI.

2) SITUATION GENERALE

FLUX D'OUEST MODERE MOLLISANT AVEC UNE HAUSSE DES PRESSIONS LIEE A
UNE CELLULE ANTICYCLONIQUE PREVUE A 1025 HPA SUR LE CENTRE DE LA
FRANCE LA NUIT PROCHAINE.

3) PREVISION POUR CET APRES-MIDI ET LA NUIT PROCHAINE

VENT : OUEST 3 A 4, PASSAGEREMENT FORCE 2 SUR LES COTES AU NORD DU
GRIS-NEZ, S'ORIENTANT AU SECTEUR SUD EN FIN DE NUIT 3 A 5
MER : PEU AGITEE A BELLE
TEMPS : SEC ET PEU NUAGEUX A CLAIR LA NUIT PROCHAINE
VISI : SUPERIEURE A 5 MILLES.

4) PREVISION POUR LE VENDREDI 7

VENT : SECTEUR SUD FORCE 4 A 5 FRAICHISSANT JUSQU'A 6 BEAUFORT
L'APRES-MIDI AVEC MENACE DE 7 EN SOIREE ET NUIT SUIVANTE AU SECTEUR
SUD-OUEST
MER : PEU AGITEE DEVENANT AGITEE
TEMPS : SEC PEU NUAGEUX LE MATIN SE COUVRANT L'APRES-MIDI AVEC
ARRIVEE DE PLUIES FAIBLES EN SOIREE
VISI : VOISINE DE 5 MILLES, PASSAGEREMENT REDUITE LE MATIN AVEC
QUELQUES BRUMES EN MATINEE

5) TENDANCE ULTERIEURE

SAMEDI 8 : SUD-OUEST 6 A 7

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[simonjk]

Hi Jeanette,

Excuse this bit of shameless promotion, but I hope it is okay since you have asked the question.

We operate a Talk to a Forecaster service which you can call from abroad using your mobile at normal rates. Dial +44 8700 738 100 and explain to the forecaster you'd like to pay on your credit card. He will take you details, the charge is £10.

If you need anything else, please ask.

Cheers,
Simon

Simon Keeling
Managing Director
Weather Consultancy Services Ltd
www.weatherweb.net and www.wcsmarine.com

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[peterb]

I wouldn't try that last joke on a Parisian. He'll only remind you that in the Franco-Prussian War Paris was under siege from 17 Sept 1870 until 28 January 1871, when they were faced with starvation.

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[qsiv]

I wouldn't try any of them on any French person - whilst they may be humorous they're all the product of American jingoism at the moment.

It's very dangerous telling jokes to the people who are the target of the joke - and different nationalities have different views on humour (except the Swiss who have evolved to delete their sense of humour). Even that last is wrong - my cousins live there, the younger daughter 'married out' to a local, and once you've spent thirty years getting to know them they start to lighten up.

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[jeanette]

Thanks very much for the forecasts. I shall now wait until Sunday before going over to Calais. I found the txt forecast service on the MetOffice website and I have signed up for that at 10p a go. It is updated every 8 hours or so and I think it will tell me when a weather window might be approaching, then I may use the forecaster service or the Calais Capitainerie to check out the sea-state.

Sea-state is the most critical factor with a dutch barge.

<hr width=100% size=1>Jeanette

 

[Guest]

Spot on about the Swiss sense of humour - lived there ten years. Most jokes in German-speaking Switzerland are about Austrians and a lesser extent Germans. You know the type - Irish jokes in the UK, Norwegian jokes in Sweden, Polish jokes in the USA and Newfie jokes in Canada - many the same jokes. Once while on an international management course with participants from around the world, we discovered every culture seems to have jokes about another culture. After some informal research, we established that all cultural jokes end in Friesland - Frieslanders apparently have no humour at all, and make no jokes about anyone.

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[Twister_Ken]

Tides

As sea state matters so much, it might be worth waiting for neaps - Wed/Thu/Fri next week.

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[Gunfleet]

<<After some informal research, we established that all cultural jokes end in Friesland - Frieslanders apparently have no humour at all, and make no jokes about anyone.>> Not true! I spent a happy couple of days drunk in a pub on one of the Friesian Islands. Or I think it was. The locals were extremely funny. In English!

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[Guest]

As you said, you were drunk. Anybody can sound funny then.

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[Gunfleet]

You may have a point, E

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