Thunderstorms are the most significant metocean condition to impact offshore operations. To provide operators with sufficient warning of approaching thunderstorm activity, Nowcasting  Weather with its partner Wilkens Weather offers the “Thunderstorm Advisory Service”.
   





The service takes the form of:

• a twice, 4 or 8 daily email with text discussion
• Attached satellite photo, either high resolution visible (daytime) or infrared (nighttime). The satellite photo may be annotated to show key features, if any. Updates and warnings will be issued when and as frequently as necessary, also with attached photos.

Our highly experienced meteorologists constantly monitor satellite imagery, updated every 30 minutes for West Africa Coast, for developing thunderstorms. We also look at all available observations from surrounding airports to get an idea of the strength of any thunderstorms that are passing through the region.

Once thunderstorms develop in any of the offshore areas that we are forecasting for, we issue a statement as to the location of the thunderstorm(s), the direction of movement, anticipated time of arrival of the thunderstorm or the outflow air associated with the thunderstorm, and likely sustained winds and gusts that might be associated with the thunderstorms.

In many cases, a vessel will use its radar to pick up on approaching thunderstorms. Radar identifies the thunderstorm by picking up on the associated rainfall. By using radar, vessels can get several minutes warning of approaching thunderstorms. The Thunderstorm Advisory Service gives a warning of up to 7 hours of approaching squalls.