Painting the Squall, the Storm and Poor Visibility


9th and 10th march 20169.30am –  4.00pm

£140/2days


The Shipping Forecast is a well known friend to many, sailors and non-sailors alike. The poetic language and rhythms are companions to the insomniac and the early riser. In this course you will endeavour to capture something of the broadcast, whether you find it alarming, stormy, mysterious, frightening or calming.

We will look at other artists whose work has reflected the sea, storms, or otherwise. You will be drawing and painting, thinking about colours, tones and textures that inspire similar emotions to the Forecast.

The forecast contains details of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and sea-area forecasts containg forecast wind direction and force, weather and visibility.

The shipping forecast is issued four times a day at 2300, 0500, 1100, 1700 UTC and covers a period of 24 hours from 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 UTC respectively.

shipping forecast sea areas
shipping forecast sea areas

The waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas show on the map

Gale warnings are issued as required throughout the day (for winds of Gale Force 8 or more).

The forecast, excluding the header line, has a limit of 370 words, and has a very strict format.

There are warnings of gales in Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, and Fair Isle

Turner: Waves Breaking against the Wind

  • Humber, Thames. Southeast veering southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
  • Tyne, Dogger. Northeast 3 or 4. Occasional rain. Moderate or poor.
  • Rockall, Malin, Hebrides. Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, veering west, severe gale 9 to violent storm 11. Rain, then squally showers. Poor, becoming moderate.
  • Southeast Iceland. North 7 to severe gale 9. Heavy snow showers. Good, becoming poor in showers. Moderate icing.
  • kate@artdrawpaint.com

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