Reeds Weather Handbook 3rd edition
The comprehensive pocket guide
3rd Edition
Will be published approx. on 15. January 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
144 pages
978-1-3994-2273-4 (ISBN)
Description
An essential pocket-sized primer that equips sailors and outdoors enthusiasts with the knowledge to read and predict the weather.
Weather determines when we sail, where we sail to - and whether we arrive safely. This revised third edition provides all the necessary tools to predict and deal with all weather conditions, whether on a day trip or a longer cruise, along the coast or further offshore.
Each topic is broken down into digestible chapters, explaining the origins and effects of the full spectrum of weather conditions, including:
- Using and evaluating weather forecasts
- Coastal effects such as depressions, fronts and isobars
- Waves and swell
- Weather lore
- Sky watching
The field of meteorology is still advancing and sources of forecasts are constantly developing. This new edition keeps the handbook up-to-date, with revised sections and new material on computer weather products, satellite phones, internet access, changes in the availability of forecasts, climate change and the Coriolis effect.
With practical explanations and helpful diagrams and photographs, this is the ideal aide-memoire for skippers and crew, especially those studying for their Day Skipper and Yachtmaster exams.
Weather determines when we sail, where we sail to - and whether we arrive safely. This revised third edition provides all the necessary tools to predict and deal with all weather conditions, whether on a day trip or a longer cruise, along the coast or further offshore.
Each topic is broken down into digestible chapters, explaining the origins and effects of the full spectrum of weather conditions, including:
- Using and evaluating weather forecasts
- Coastal effects such as depressions, fronts and isobars
- Waves and swell
- Weather lore
- Sky watching
The field of meteorology is still advancing and sources of forecasts are constantly developing. This new edition keeps the handbook up-to-date, with revised sections and new material on computer weather products, satellite phones, internet access, changes in the availability of forecasts, climate change and the Coriolis effect.
With practical explanations and helpful diagrams and photographs, this is the ideal aide-memoire for skippers and crew, especially those studying for their Day Skipper and Yachtmaster exams.
Reviews / Votes
...an excellent series of handbooks on various aspects of weather * International Journal of Meteorology (review of 2nd edition) * An excellent practical book to have on board, and especially useful for those studying for their RYA examinations. * The Cruising Association (review of 2nd edition) * lots of fascinating information about weather lore and sky watching. ...an excellent aide memoire for skippers and crew. * Welsh Coastal Life (review of 2nd edition) * full of practical information and vivid illustrations * Hardy Boat Owners Magazine (review of 2nd edition) * Reeds Weather Handbook For Sail and Power is a little book but it packs a big punch and can truly be called a 'comprehensive pocket guide', showing how observation, common sense and experience can help us understand how the weather will affect our lives. * Towpath Talk (review of 2nd edition) * a small, but mighty book. ... a practical explanation of a complex, but essential subject for all sailors * Cruising (review of 2nd edition) * I would certainly be happy to pop it into my pocket when I am sailing as a quick reference and a book to dip into for enjoyable snippets on the weather, and would thoroughly recommend it for someone going to sea. * Weather (review of 2nd edition) *More details
Series
Edition
3rd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
Colour diagrams and photographs throughout
Dimensions
Height: 160 mm
Width: 100 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
136 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3994-2273-4 (9781399422734)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2026
3rd Edition
Reeds
€12.99
Not yet available
E-Book
01/2026
3rd Edition
Reeds
€12.99
Not yet available
Person
Frank Singleton is a former Senior Forecaster with the Met Office and is an RYA Yachtmaster with over 60,000 miles under his keel. He has cruised widely in European and Mediterranean waters. His weather website for sailors (weather.mailasail.com/Franks-Weather) is known worldwide as an extensive, informed and informative resource for all sea-goers. He has given many lectures to sailors, especially for the Cruising Association and the Royal Yachting Association.
Content
Introduction
Air masses
-Understanding air masses
-Air directly from polar regions
-Air indirectly from polar regions
-Air from the subtropics
-Tropical air
-Air mass with a land track
-Fog
-Sea fog areas
-Other causes of sea fog
-Showers and thunderstorms
-Lightning
-Lightning protection
-Avoiding the risk
-Other dangers of thunderstorms
Fronts and depressions
-Frontal lows and their formation
-What you may see at sea level
-Occluded fronts
-Interpretation of synoptic charts
-Non-frontal lows
Sea and land effects
-How breezes are formed
-The sea breeze front
-What affects the sea breeze?
-Land breezes
-Sea/land breeze cycles
-How strong? How far out to sea? How far inland?
-Cliffs, straits and headlands
Waves and swell
-Understanding sea state
-Wind waves
-Swell
-Water depth and tidal stream
-Reflection and refraction
-Sea state - general advice
-Lagoon, bay and seiche effects
-Tsunamis
Weather forecasting - the background
-Why weather prediction is so difficult
-Before computers
-Numerical weather prediction (NWP)
-Limitations to NWP
-Ensembles and probability forecasts
-Grid spacing
-Small-scale NWP
Using forecasts - and your experience
-Planning
-Weather and whether to go?
-Day sailing and coastal passages
-Passage making
-Examples
-Learning by experience
-Ocean crossings
Sources of weather information
-Types of marine forecast available
-The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
-Forecast areas and schedules
-Forecast texts
-Other GMDSS services
-GRIB files and products
-Basic (free) services
-Processed or selected GRIB data
-Fine-scale GRIB data
-On prepayment
-Consultants
-Actual weather reports
Getting forecasts
-Radio or internet?
-Marine VHF and MF
-NAVTEX
-MF/HF/SSB radio
-The internet
-Internet access - coastal and ashore
-Internet access - long range
Observing - learning by experience
-Weather lore and rules of thumb Nowcasting
-Examples of unusual cloud patterns
-Mountain waves
-Bora cloud
-Mammatus cloud
Appendix
-Acronyms and abbreviations
-Meteorological terms
-Terms used in marine weather forecasts
-Beaufort wind scale
-Douglas sea state
-Gale and strong wind warnings
-Wind direction
-Visibility
-Terms used in UK Met Office forecasts
-Gale warning timings
-Movement of pressure systems
-Pressure tendency in station reports
-Sources of information
Index
Air masses
-Understanding air masses
-Air directly from polar regions
-Air indirectly from polar regions
-Air from the subtropics
-Tropical air
-Air mass with a land track
-Fog
-Sea fog areas
-Other causes of sea fog
-Showers and thunderstorms
-Lightning
-Lightning protection
-Avoiding the risk
-Other dangers of thunderstorms
Fronts and depressions
-Frontal lows and their formation
-What you may see at sea level
-Occluded fronts
-Interpretation of synoptic charts
-Non-frontal lows
Sea and land effects
-How breezes are formed
-The sea breeze front
-What affects the sea breeze?
-Land breezes
-Sea/land breeze cycles
-How strong? How far out to sea? How far inland?
-Cliffs, straits and headlands
Waves and swell
-Understanding sea state
-Wind waves
-Swell
-Water depth and tidal stream
-Reflection and refraction
-Sea state - general advice
-Lagoon, bay and seiche effects
-Tsunamis
Weather forecasting - the background
-Why weather prediction is so difficult
-Before computers
-Numerical weather prediction (NWP)
-Limitations to NWP
-Ensembles and probability forecasts
-Grid spacing
-Small-scale NWP
Using forecasts - and your experience
-Planning
-Weather and whether to go?
-Day sailing and coastal passages
-Passage making
-Examples
-Learning by experience
-Ocean crossings
Sources of weather information
-Types of marine forecast available
-The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
-Forecast areas and schedules
-Forecast texts
-Other GMDSS services
-GRIB files and products
-Basic (free) services
-Processed or selected GRIB data
-Fine-scale GRIB data
-On prepayment
-Consultants
-Actual weather reports
Getting forecasts
-Radio or internet?
-Marine VHF and MF
-NAVTEX
-MF/HF/SSB radio
-The internet
-Internet access - coastal and ashore
-Internet access - long range
Observing - learning by experience
-Weather lore and rules of thumb Nowcasting
-Examples of unusual cloud patterns
-Mountain waves
-Bora cloud
-Mammatus cloud
Appendix
-Acronyms and abbreviations
-Meteorological terms
-Terms used in marine weather forecasts
-Beaufort wind scale
-Douglas sea state
-Gale and strong wind warnings
-Wind direction
-Visibility
-Terms used in UK Met Office forecasts
-Gale warning timings
-Movement of pressure systems
-Pressure tendency in station reports
-Sources of information
Index