Tag Archives: Weather Routing

Hurricane Force storms over North Atlantic Shipping Lanes

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Fred Pickhardt

A strong 500 mb jet is setting up west to east across the North Atlantic over the next couple of days near 40N latitude. This will favor strong storm development across the main North Atlantic shipping lanes.  Expecting storm to … Continue reading →

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Use of the 500 mb Chart at Sea

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Fred Pickhardt

The 500mb forecast chart is an excellent tool for mariners to estimate where to anticipate the heaviest sea and swell conditions as well as a guide to the expected surface storm tracks and intensities.  The closer the height contours on … Continue reading →

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What is Weather Routing Vs. Vessel Performance Monitoring?

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Fred Pickhardt

Optimum ship routing is the art and science of developing the “best route” for a ship based on the existing weather forecasts, ship characteristics, ocean currents and special cargo requirements. Vessel performance monitoring services allow a ship operator, owner or charterer to get a daily performance analysis regarding a vessel’s speed and fuel consumption based on the charter-party specifications and the actual weather and currents encountered. Continue reading →

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URGENT “Notice to Mariners” – Changes to NOAA marine products effective March 7th, 2018

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Fred Pickhardt

By Lee Chesneau Lee is a senior marine meteorologist, lecturer, & a graduate from the University of Wisconsin (Madison).   Lee has had a distinguished career with NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), NOAA Satellite Service (NESDIS), U.S. Navy Ship Routing Officer … Continue reading →

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High Wind and Wave Events Crossing the Gulf Stream

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Fred Pickhardt

Crossing the Gulf Stream where ocean currents can exceed 2 knots takes some skill and if you try in under certain weather conditions, could be dangerous for any size vessel.  High wind and wave events can occur under certain conditions … Continue reading →

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Hurricane Force Storm Forecast for Central North Atlantic

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Fred Pickhardt

A weak low will move off the USEC near Cape Hatteras Saturday evening then move eastward and deepen rapidly and develop storm to hurricane force winds of 55-70 knots and seas to 9 meters (30 ft) south and southwest of … Continue reading →

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Omega Block developing over eastern North Atlantic

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Fred Pickhardt

The current North Atlantic upper-air pattern is developing  an Omega block over the northeastern North Atlantic. This pattern gets its name because this upper air pattern looks like the Greek letter omega (Ω). Omega blocks tend to have two cut-off … Continue reading →

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Storm low over the south-central North Atlantic

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Fred Pickhardt

A deep 987mb low over the central North Atlantic at 33N latitude is producing winds 35-50 knots with seas to 34 feet (10.4 meters) west of the center.  The low is forecast to slowly drift towards the southeast and gradually … Continue reading →

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Hurricane Force Storm to affect westbound North Atlantic Shipping

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Fred Pickhardt

  A developing 1017 mb off the US East Coast will move northeast and deepen rapidly over the next 48-72 hours with winds reaching storm to hurricane force within the next 36-48 hours then deepening to 936 mb in 72 … Continue reading →

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West Pacific stormtracks may delay westbound shipping

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Fred Pickhardt

Strong Arctic high pressure building over Siberia eastward will suppress stormtracks far to the south across the western North Pacific during the next several days.  This will likely result in delays to west-bound traffic from the Panama Canal to Far … Continue reading →

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