marine weather

North Sea weather: generally rather calm conditions

The meteorological autumn has started, but no real autumn weather with rain and storms is expected soon. Low pressure persists over the northern Atlantic and the Norwegian Sea, and a ridge of high pressure, associated with high pressure over eastern Europe, stretches towards the North Sea. Pressure drops over central Europe during the course of the week, resulting in a northerly flow over the area.

At first calm conditions prevail over the North Sea as a ridge of high pressure stretches towards the area. In the coming days, the ridge will shift north as pressure drops over central Europe and the Alps. The winds will turn to northerly directions and increase to mostly moderate, 3 or 4 Bft, with Hs around 1 meter. Near the English Channel and near the coast of southern Norway, winds will be mostly fresh, 5 Bft. In the southern part of the southern North Sea, this will result in a significant wave height of 2-3 meters.

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3 September 2024

By Bram van Kester

North Sea weather briefing week 36: September 3rd – September 8th

swc-maritiem_240902 Fig1. N’ly flow with fresh winds in the southern part of the southern North Sea on Friday. Hs regionally reaches 2-3 m.

In the weekend the low over central Europe weakens a bit, while the trough over the North Sea widens. The decreased pressure gradient results in lower wind speeds, mostly moderate, 3 or 4 Bft, still from notherly directions. The Hs decreases to 1-2 meters.