Editing Shipping Forecast (section)

{{Short description|British maritime weather report and forecast}}
{{about|the BBC radio broadcast|marine weather forecasts|Marine weather forecasting}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}

{{Infobox radio show
| name          = Shipping Forecast
| image         = File:BBC Shipping Forecast logo 2023.jpeg
| image_size    = 
| alt           = Shipping Forecast logo
| caption       = 
| other_names   = 
| format        = [[Marine weather forecasting|Maritime weather forecast]]
| runtime       = 
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| runtime_note  = 
| country       = United Kingdom
| language      = English
| home_station  = BBC Radio 4
| syndicates    = 
| television    = 
| presenter     = 
| starring      = 
| announcer     = 
| creator       = Robert FitzRoy
| writer        = 
| director      = 
| producer      = 
| exec_producer = 
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| senior_editor = 
| narrated      = 
| rec_location  = 
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| oth_location  = 
| first_aired   = 24 August 1867 (by telegraph)
| last_aired    = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| num_series    = 
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| opentheme     = 
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| website       = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| podcast       = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}

The '''''Shipping Forecast''''' is a [[BBC Radio]] broadcast of [[weather forecasting|weather reports]] and [[marine weather forecasting|forecasts]] for the seas around the [[British Isles]]. It is produced by the [[Met Office]] and broadcast by [[BBC Radio 4]] on behalf of the [[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]]. The forecast dates back over 150 years. There are currently two or three broadcasts per day, at 00:48, 05:34, and 17:54 (weekends only) [[time in the United Kingdom|UK local time]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/work-warning/news/changes-to-radio-4|title=Changes to BBC Radio 4 from 1st April 2024|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl7j |title=BBC Radio 4 FM - Schedules }}</ref>

In the forecast, the waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas, also known as weather areas. The forecast begins by listing areas with gale warnings, followed by a general synopsis of pressure areas, then a forecast for each individual sea area covering wind speed and direction, precipitation, and visibility. Extended forecasts at 00:48 and 05:34 include information from [[list of coastal weather stations in the British Isles|coastal weather stations]] and an [[inshore coastal areas of the United Kingdom|inshore waters]] forecast.

The unique and distinctive presentation style of these broadcasts has led to their attracting an audience much wider than that directly interested in maritime weather conditions. It is frequently referred to and parodied in British popular culture.