Editing Shipping Forecast (section)

==Broadcast format==
{{listen
| filename    = Shipping Forecast.ogg
| title       = Shipping Forecast
| description = An extract of the area forecasts
}}
The Shipping Forecast follows a very strict format. Excluding the header line, it has a limit of 350 words—except for the 0048 broadcast, where it is increased to 380 to accommodate Trafalgar's inclusion.<ref name="format">{{cite web|title=UK shipping forecast |publisher=[[Met Office]] |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/mohippo/pdf/3/3/fact_sheet_no._8.pdf|access-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401161444/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/mohippo/pdf/3/3/fact_sheet_no._8.pdf |archive-date=1 April 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Forecast times are spelled out as digits on the 24-hour clock, for example "two-three-double-O", and barometric pressures are pronounced as whole numbers, for example "a thousand and five".<ref>
{{cite web|title=Chris Aldridge, Senior Announcer, Radio 4|website=Stumped podcast|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3csymn6|access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref> With regard to the timing of weather events, the words "Imminent", "Soon" and "Later" are used and are tightly defined. "Imminent" means within 6 hours, "Soon" means within 6 to 12 hours and "Later" means within 12 to 24 hours.

The basic order of the forecast is:

# Gale warnings in force (if any)
# General synopsis
# Area forecasts: wind direction/speed, weather, visibility, ship icing if any
# Coastal weather stations (00:48 and 05:20 only): wind direction/speed, precipitation if any, visibility, pressure
# Inshore waters (00:48 and 05:20 only): wind direction/speed, weather, visibility

===Introduction, gale warnings, and general synopsis ===
The forecast begins with "And now the Shipping Forecast, issued by the Met Office on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency at xxxx today."  This format is followed quite strictly, although some [[continuity announcer]]s read out the actual date of issue as opposed to the word "today".  

This is followed by gale warnings (winds of force 8 or more on the [[Beaufort scale]]), if any (e.g., "There are warnings of gales in Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, and Fair Isle").  This sometimes follows the opposite format (e.g., "There are warnings of gales in all areas except Biscay, Trafalgar and FitzRoy").

The general synopsis follows, giving the position, pressure (in [[millibar]]s) and track of pressure areas (e.g., "Low, Rockall, 987, deepening rapidly, expected Fair Isle 964 by 0700 tomorrow"). With the information provided in the Shipping Forecast it is possible to compile a pressure chart for the coasts of northwestern Europe. 

===Area forecasts===
Each area's 24-hour forecast is then read out. Several areas may be combined into a single forecast where the conditions are expected to be similar. [[Wind direction]] is given first, then strength (on the [[Beaufort scale]]), followed by [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]], if any, and (usually) lastly visibility.

Change in wind direction is indicated by "veering" ([[clockwise]] change) or "backing" (anti-clockwise change). Winds at or above force 8 are also described by name for emphasis, i.e., Gale 8, Severe Gale 9, Storm 10, Violent Storm 11 and [[Hurricane]] force 12. The word "force" is only officially used when announcing force 12 winds.<ref name="format"/> 

Visibility is given in the format "Good", meaning that the visibility is greater than {{convert|5|nmi|lk=in}}; "Moderate", where visibility is between {{convert|2|and|5|nmi|abbr=on}} nautical miles; "Poor", where visibility is between 1,000 metres and two nautical miles and "[[Fog]]", where visibility is less than {{convert|1000|m|abbr=on}}. When severe winter cold combines with strong winds and a cold sea, [[Icing (nautical)|icing]] can occur, normally only in sea area Southeast Iceland; if expected, icing warnings (light, moderate or severe) are given as the last item of each sea area forecast.

[[File:Iced ship.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Icing can be a dangerous problem for ships; accurate forecasting can save lives by ensuring crews are prepared]]
Examples of area forecasts:
:* "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. Northerly 7 to severe gale 9. Heavy snow showers. Good, becoming poor in showers. Moderate icing."

On 10 January 1993, during the [[Braer Storm of January 1993|Braer Storm]], a record North Atlantic low pressure of 914 mb was recorded. The shipping forecast was:
:* "Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey. Southwest hurricane force 12 or more."

===Coastal weather stations and inshore waters===
Extended shipping forecasts (00:48 and 05:20) also include weather reports from [[List of coastal weather stations of the United Kingdom|coastal weather stations]] followed by a forecast for the [[Inshore coastal areas of the United Kingdom|inshore waters of the United Kingdom]]. This additional information does not fall within the 350/380-word restriction.

The reports for coastal weather stations use the following format: name of the station, wind direction/speed, precipitation (if any), visibility in miles, barometric pressure, and trend in pressure.  For example, "Machrihanish Automatic. West by south 6, rain, 1 mile, 981, falling more slowly."

The inshore waters forecast begins with a summary of the general situation, followed by forecasts for coastal sections, moving clockwise, using a format similar to that used for sea areas.