Weather Forecast
On ten VHF channels the Netherlands Coast Guard Centre broadcasts a weather forecast for the Dutch coastal waters, the Waddenzee and the IJsselmeer. The weather forecast, issued by the Maritime Meteorological Service of the KNMI, is broadcast four times a day after the traffic lists of 08:05, 13:05, 19:05 and 23:05 hrs (local time). It consists of a short summing up of the important weather systems (the Synopsis), wind or gale warnings if any, and weather conditions for the next 12 hours. At 19.05 and 23.05 also for the next 24 hours.
The VHF channels
The following VHF channels are in use:
| Westkapelle |
23 |
| Rotterdam |
87 |
| Scheveningen |
83 |
| Haarlem |
25 |
| Wieringermeer |
27 |
| Location L7 (Continental Shelf) |
84 |
| Nes |
23 |
| Appingendam |
27 |
| Lelystad |
83 |
Gale warnings
Immediately after they have been issued by the KNMI, the wind or gale warnings for the Dutch coastal waters, the Waddenzee and the IJsselmeer for 6 Beaufort or more, are announced on the distress channel 16 and broadcast on the same 10 working channels on which the weather forecast is given. Then the gale warnings are repeated every hour, following the traffic list of Scheveningen Radio on the same ten channels until the warnings are withdrawn. Changes in the warnings are withdrawn.
Changes in the warnings or withdrawals are treated as new announcements. Warnings are given for the districts Flushing, Hook of Holland, IJmuiden, Texel, Rottum and IJsselmeer. Gale warnings are also transmitted by the Dutch radio stations Radio 1 to 5 as past of the weather forecast in the news bulletins.
Navtex
The Netherlands Coast Guard issues Navtex messages, in the English language, on 518 kHz fixed frequency. The messages, containing navigational information and gale warnings, are broadcast at 03:48, 07:48, 11:48; 15:48; 19:48 and 23:48 UT.
Radio Telephony (MF)
Gale- and navigational warnings are broadcast on 1890 and 1713 kHz after announcement by the Netherlands Coastguard on 2182 kHz.
Weather bulletins are broadcast on 1890 and 1713 kHz at 09:40 and 21:40 UTC.
Visual storm signals
Visual warning signals apply only to Dutch coastal waters and the IJsselmeer and only for near gale force winds (7 Bft) and gale (8 Bft or higher) . The direction of the expected wind is not given for near gale force wind warnings. The direction of the expected wind for gale warnings is given by indicating the quadrant. The four quadrants are NE, SE, SW and NW.A wind from the NW quadrant means a wind between N and W.
The five locations where storm signals are displayed:
- Rottum District
- Texel District
West Terschelling, on the dunes SW from the Brandaris lighthouse
- IJmuiden District
IJmuiden, south of the lower lighthouse
- Hook of Holland District
Hook of Holland, on the semaphone of pilot Maas
- Flushing District
Flushing, at the lock
24-Hour service
Wind and gale warning and wave and tidal forecasts for the Waddenzee, the IJsselmeer, Dutch coastal waters and the Dutch coast issued by the Maritime Meteorogical Service in Hook of Holland, are available at Internet: http://www.knmi.nl/voorl/weer/reindex.html?/voorl/maritiem.
Tel. 030-2206603
Telefax 030-2200224
For meteorological services such as offshore weather forecasting, and route and location forecasting for the shipping industry a.o., please contact the following weather services:
HWS (Holland Weather Services)
Tel. 035 - 603 90 03
Telefax 035 - 603 90 02
Meteo Consult
Tel. 0317 - 399 800
Telefax 0317 - 423 164
Internet: http://www.meteocon.nl
Port Meteorological Office
The Port Meteorological Office provides services to ships participating in the voluntary observing system of the World Meteorological Organization. These services include checking of meteorological instruments.
The office is situated at De Bilt, KNMI Headquarters, Tel. 030-2206911, Fax 030 - 2210407.