Changes have been made to VHF Inshore Waters Forecasts for the northwest coast of Scotland and the Western Isles.
Changes have been made to VHF Inshore Waters Forecasts for the northwest coast of Scotland and the Western Isles. Forecasts broadcast on VHF radio by Stornoway and Clyde Coastguard during their Maritime Safety Information (MSI) broadcasts will in future include two new areas, one covering Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath, excluding the Minch, and the other covering the Minch, from South Uist and Rum in the south to Butt of Lewis and Lochinver in the north.
The change has come about as a result of consultation between the MCA, UK Met Office and the Western Isles Fisherman’s Association to better define the difference in the weather conditions between the Atlantic coast of the Western Isles and the Minch, Little Minch & Sea of the Hebrides which is covered by the Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath, including the Outer Hebrides forecast.
The two new areas have been determined by Met Office models which showed that average wind speeds were often different in each of the two areas.
These new forecasts are only available from Stornoway or Clyde Coastguard on VHF radio or by telephone. Clyde Coastguard only broadcast the Minch forecast (2) in their MSI broadcasts. The original Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath forecast is still available from the Met Office website and via Navtex.
