French Marine Forecast Terms

About this page

Preamble

Native English speakers have many advantages in the world community. But they too often let themselves be put at a disadvantage because of their unwillingness (it is rarely inability) to try to learn other languages even when it is to their benefit. I never fail to be amazed at British sailors who do not even try to understand marine weather forecasts when across the Channel (or, even, across la Manche). I can assure you that it worth the effort This page is intended as an aid to those who tentatively switch to Channel 79 or 80 on the VHF.

CROSS now uses computer generated voice on VHF. The “diction” is not quite as clear as when forecasts were read out by human beings – particularly from CEOSS Etel and CROSSMED in my experience. I now find place names often difficult. At least this page will help to understand written forecasts on paper or on-line. Bon voyage et bonne chance!

Related pages

• European VHF Schedules
• Sea areas used in French forecasts

Introduction

These are some of the more common terms that I have heard broadcast by CROSS (French coastguard) on Chs 79 and 80. Many weather terms may be found in almanacs, the Cruising Association Yachtsman’s Ten Language Dictionary, and le Guide Marine de Météo France. Good though these various publications are rarely complete.

My greatest problem with French forecasts is that neither CROSS nor Météo France seem to have as standardised vocabulary as is the case in the UK. Sailing in the Mediterranean I heard some words that are not used around Channel and Atlantic coasts of France.. Consequently, these lists are unlikely to be exhaustive. I have tried to follow the modern French convention of not using the circumflex and cedilla accents.

CROSS Broadcasts

The French equivalent of the BBC shipping forecast is known as le Bulletin au large and can be received by NAVTEX. Parts of the Bulletin au large and warnings (Bulletins Météorologiques Spécials - BMS) are also broadcast by some CROSS stations on VHF channels.

French inshore waters forecasts (similar to those broadcast by HMCG on VHF) - prévisions or bulletins cotières et peches - are broadcast on marine VHF channels at times to be found in almanacs and le Guide Marine de Météo France (free from most French marinas) and also available online. The Météo France booklet is likely to be the most up to date version.

CROSS broadcast three times a day generally (and five times a day from the CROSS Corsen satellite stations during the period 1 May to 30 September). Morning and early afternoon forecasts are usually for today (aujourd'hui or la journée de ...), tonight (la nuit de ...) and an outlook (tendance ultérieure or évolution pour...) which may be for just one day or can be for several days ahead. The evening forecast is a new forecast and covers tonight (la nuit prochaine), tomorrow (le jour de ....) and an outlook.

Before sailing in an area it is useful to view texts of French forecasts by going to my GMDSS pages.

Wind

Note 1 These are included here for completeness sake. However, in the Mediterranean "phenomenon important" I have heard the words Moderé, Assez Fort and Fort used to mean, approximately, Beaufort Forces 4, 5 and 6. Météo France says that these are not exact equivalents.

Note 2 CROSS issue warnings of Fog as well as strong winds.

Weather

Note 1 In marine forecasts broadcast by CROSS the words Brume (mist) and Bruine (drizzle) are not usually used. This is in order to avoid confusion with each other. Petites pluies (literally little rains) is used for drizzle

Note 2 In Channel and Atlantic coast forecasts, words are not usually used to describe visibility which is given in miles (milles) or metres. The descriptive terms are used in the Med (or were when we were there.).

Weather systems and other terms

Note Météo France uses the scientifically correct term hectopascal for units of pressure. 1 hectopascal = 1 millibar.

Sea State

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