The Lagos Navigators’ Club

Lagos Navigators

A SIMPLE GUIDE TO WEATHER FORECASTS

REGIONS & DIVISIONS=

The country can be divided into Norte, around Oporto; Centro arou= nd Figueira da Foz, Lisboa a= nd Setúbal; and Sul which is Alentejo and here in the Algarve.

Some other key words are Litoral =3D Coastlin= e; with either Ocidental =3D Western; or Sul =3D South.

Also Motanhas =3D Mountains; Serra =3D= Range of Hills; Terras Al= tas/Baixas =3D High/Low Ground.

“Break points” on the west coast are mainly in the central belt, Cabo Carvoeiro =3D Peniche/Berlengas; Cabo da Rocha and Cabo Raso =3D West of Lisboa; Cabo Espichel =3D Set&uacut= e;bal.

TIMING <= /p>

Manhã = =3D Morning;   Matinal =3D Morning (adjective);   &nb= sp;   Tarde =3D Afternoon/evening; Noite =3D Night;

A partir = =3D From or at the start of;               = ;            =             Ao fim de =3DAt the end of;   Durante =3D During.

SKY and CLOUDS

=

Céu limpo             =       =3D Clear sky;        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Céu coberto      &= nbsp;      =3D Overcast sky;=

Céu pouco nublado =3D Sky slightly cloudy;  &nb= sp;            =     Céu muito nublado =3D Sky very cloudy;

Nuvem alta             =    =3D High cloud;        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            Nuvem baixa      &nb= sp;      =3D Low cloud.

WIND <= o:p>

=

Vento em geral= = =3D Wind mainly. This covers a multitude of sins and allows for error!

Soprando        = =3D Blowing, i.e. winds may be of a different strength, either for a= nother time or area. The forecasts t= ake no account of the “Nortada” whi= ch can give Northerly F4 - F6 in the afternoons!

Directions are by cardinal and half cardinal points - or by the quadrant – and, = in clockwise order, are

Norte -N; Nordeste = -NE; Este -E; Sudeste -SE; Sul -S; Sudoeste -SW; Oes= te -W; Noroeste -NW.

=

Fraco<= /span>       =3D Light<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>     ie F1 to 3;            =             &nb= sp;     Moderado     =3D Moderate     ie F4;

Fresco     =3D Fresh   ie F5;            =             &nb= sp;        &= nbsp;   Muito fresco =3D Very fresh   ie F6 =3D Strong in UK;=

Forte        =3D Strong ie F7 =3D Near gale in UK;    &nb= sp; Muito forte    =3D Very strong ie F8 = =3D Gale in UK.

Wind speeds are given in Km/H =3D Kilometers per Hour. A good way to convert to knots, is= to divide by 2, then add 10%. For example, 10 Km/H divided by 2 =3D 5; = add 10% of 5 =3D 0.5. Total = =3D 5.5 Kts.

True figures - = and in italics, the approximate Beaufort Scal= e forces - are:-

10 Km/H =3D 5.4 Kt   F 2; 20 Km/H =3D10.8 Kt F 3; 30 Km/H =3D 16.2 Kt F 4<= /i>; 40 Km/H =3D 21.6 Kt F 5

50 K= m/H =3D 27.0 Kt F 6;   60 Km/H =3D 32.4 Kt <= i>F 7; 70 Km/H =3D 37.8 Kt F 8<= /i>; 80 Km/H =3D 43.2 Kt F 9<= /i>

PRECIPITATION and VISIBILITY<= /o:p>

Seco  &nbs= p;     =3D Dry;        &= nbsp;           Húmido       =3D = Humid;        &= nbsp; Chuvisco      =3D Drizzle= ; Aguaceiros =3D Showers;

Chuva     =3D Rain;         &= nbsp;        Trovoadas =3D Thunder;      Granizo         = =3D Hail;      Neve   &nb= sp;          =3D Snow Nebl= ina   =3D Mist;         &= nbsp;         Nevoeiro     =3D Fog;        &= nbsp;      Rajadas        =3D Gusts;   Borrasca      =3D Squalls<= o:p>

TEMPERATURE CHANGE

Pequeno    =3D Small;         &= nbsp; Grande   =3D Large;               = ; Subida =3D Increase;        D= escida =3D Decrease

SEA STATE

The estado do mar is described in ter= ms of:-   &n= bsp;            Ondas =3D Swell/ Waves; Água do mar =3D Sea