Pro tips for amateur maritime forecasters
The Weather Handbook (fourth edition), by Alan Watts
Image on landing page: double rainbow over the harbour at Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk, UK. Paul Stewart/Getty Images.
Accurate weather forecasts have always been important for seafarers – helping in passage planning and routing.
This latest edition of The Weather Handbook will no doubt be of great interest to working crew outside of required meteorology studies, and its facts about wind could be useful to those with sailing hobbies.
Written by former weather forecaster Alan Watts, the book has 16 chapters devoted to the various elements of the weather as well as a useful terminology and information section.
And as Watts encouragingly explains, we don't need the aid of massive computers, satellites and complex equipment to put together a basic forecast. With just a few essential tools such as a wind vane or even a flag, we can all understand enough not to get wet (in theory), and to divine a forecast of sorts from the 'upper sky'.
The Weather Handbook (fourth edition)
By Alan Watts
Adlard Coles, £16.99
ISBN: 978 14729 78592
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