One of twenty-one geographic areas for which meteorological services co-ordinate the broadcast of marine weather forecasts.
In practice
For navigating officers, METAREA forecasts supplement but do not replace meteorological guidance obtained from routing services, satellite imagery, and analysis of synoptic charts. Officers must log receipt of the applicable METAREA weather forecast at each watch and record significant changes — forecast gale force winds, ice limits, or tropical storm tracks — in the weather log and voyage plan. Under SOLAS V, the master is required to report significant meteorological observations to appropriate shore authorities, and awareness of METAREA boundaries is necessary to direct such reports to the correct co-ordinating service.
Regulatory detail & full definition
A METAREA is one of twenty-one geographic areas defined by IMO and the World Meteorological Organization for the purpose of co-ordinating the international broadcast of marine weather forecasts, gale warnings, ice warnings, and tropical cyclone advisories. Each METAREA is the responsibility of a designated national meteorological service — for example, the UK Met Office co-ordinates METAREA I, and NOAA covers METAREA IV. Weather information is broadcast by HF radio in plain language or coded format and via the Inmarsat-C SafetyNET service for vessels in Areas A3 and A4.
For navigating officers, METAREA forecasts supplement but do not replace meteorological guidance obtained from routing services, satellite imagery, and analysis of synoptic charts. Officers must log receipt of the applicable METAREA weather forecast at each watch and record significant changes — forecast gale force winds, ice limits, or tropical storm tracks — in the weather log and voyage plan. Under SOLAS V, the master is required to report significant meteorological observations to appropriate shore authorities, and awareness of METAREA boundaries is necessary to direct such reports to the correct co-ordinating service.