Monitoring weather forecasts before and during the voyage is one of the most important factors in planning a voyage or trip correctly. You can access this information via Turkish Radio broadcasts on channel 67, announcements at marinas or shelters, or via the internet on your phone or computer. Instead of using websites that provide point-specific forecasts, it is advisable to use websites that analyze and interpret all meteorological parameters on a map for maritime purposes.

If the voyage is lengthy, it is highly beneficial to begin monitoring and interpreting the forecasts even before boarding the vessel. In terms of evaluating last-minute changes or error margins in the region, the accuracy of 24- and 72-hour forecasts is much more reliable than forecasts for a week or longer.

For long passages, it is necessary to track the continental high and low pressure centers that affect our region. In our region, during the summer season, there is a balance between the high-pressure zone over the Balkans and Russia and the low-pressure zone over Basra and the Sahara. The prevailing winds resulting from these pressure differences cause air currents of varying intensity due to the temperature differences between day and night.

However, in the final stage, one of the most accurate prediction methods within a 2-hour timeframe is “visual observation.” In addition to monitoring wind conditions, observing the sky and clouds makes it much easier to anticipate rapidly changing weather events. By incorporating barometer and thermometer readings into this observation, we can achieve a much more accurate prediction.

Therefore, we must keep in mind that the prevailing wind direction and intensity mentioned earlier may vary in strength at different times of the day while we are anchored in a bay. Whether we are moored at a location or anchored in a bay, the details obtained from meteorological forecasts are one of the most important factors in enhancing comfort at sea. These parameters should be used in detail not only for the location where we stay overnight but also for planning the direction and duration of the voyage.

If you regularly check weather forecasts, you can adjust your strategy or the voyage you have planned in such situations.