What is GMDSS?
GMDSS marine weather information is a retransmission of The Global Ocean Observing System. National Meteorological Services initially supplies the forecasts within the framework of the WMO Marine Broadcast System for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.
In PredictWind, GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) refers to official marine weather forecasts provided by various meteorological agencies. These forecasts cover important weather information for maritime safety, including hurricane activity, wind, wave, and storm conditions. You can access both textual and graphical GMDSS forecasts through the PredictWind Offshore App, PredictWind App and PredictWind website.
It's crucial for sailors to download GMDSS forecasts regularly to stay informed about potential weather hazards, particularly during long ocean crossings, when navigating remote areas or when hurricanes are forming. Familiarizing yourself with the graphical output before departure is crucial, as these reports are prepared by meteorologists advising on adverse weather. The file size is very small, around 3kB, making it easy to download even with limited connectivity. To ensure complete weather data, download all other relevant files, such as GRIB files, every 12 hours, so the time-slider reflects all current conditions.
GMDSS Text Forecasts are available on the free version of PredictWind.
Graphical GMDSS forecasts are part of the Standard & Professional subscriptions.
To download GMDSS forecasts in the PredictWind Offshore App:
Set your route by adjusting the start (green) and destination (red) points.
Select "GMDSS Forecasts" from the left menu.
Manually choose additional GMDSS areas by clicking them; darker shading indicates selected areas.
Click "Download" and select both "GMDSS Forecast (Free)" and "GMDSS Graphical Forecast."
Ensure other weather data, like GRIB files, are downloaded for complete forecasting.
When the download is complete, click on the blue hyperlink, for example (IV 1 hrs ago) to read the textual forecast.
To view the graphical GMDSS, click on GRIBS from the Main Menu
Click on the Forecast options box at the bottom right of the page.
Turn on GMDSS
Click on any region to view the description for that zone.
You can also now view the GMDSS text forecast visually on all our weather maps. The text forecasts are analysed in the PredictWind cloud, and then each weather system, front and warning region is plotted accurately on the map, giving you a world-first, global view of the GMDSS forecast. Click here to read more about AI-generated GMDSS Maps.
