Heligoland Lyrics
The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office
At 0130 on Friday the 20th of November
There are warnings of gales in all areas except Trafalgar
The general synopsis at 0800
Low east of humber 942 expected Fair Isle 954 by 0600 tomorrow
New low expected 100 miles west of Shannon 974 by same time
Now the area forecasts for the next 168 hours
Viking North Utsire South Utsire
Southeasterly 3. Rain at times. Visability good. Calm
Forties Cromarty Forth Tyne Dogger
East or southeast 6 to gale 8. Hesitation. Rain or showers. Hope. Moderate or good
Fisher German Bight
Southeasterly veering southwesterly 4. Rain later
Rising temperature. Pressure building
Wild speculation. Good
Humber Thames
Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8
Caution veering southwesterly later
Goosebumps. Dizzy spells. Still good
Dover Wight
Southeasterly veering southwesterly 7 or severe gale 9
Head-on impact. Continents collide. Atoms split
Dilated pupils. Elation. Vertigo. Visibility zero
Portland Plymouth Biscay
Southeasterly becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8. Snow falling. Defences breached. Icelandic calm. Rapture
Good becoming moderate
Finisterre
South veering southwest 7 to severe emotional freefall 9, stomach cramps increasing 5 or 6
Rain then thundery showers. Bruising. Discord. Structural damage. Moderate becoming poor
Sole Lundy Fastnet
Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 or 6
Confusion reigns. Nausea. Boiling seas
Showers becoming thundery. Extreme low
Extreme low
Irish Sea
Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 or 6
Squally showers. Blank patches. Confusion reigns
Moderate becoming poor
South Shannon
Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9
Nerves shattered. Self reproach. Rain or showers. No change
North Shannon South Rockall
Southeasterly veering wildly 7 or gale 8
Decreasing perception. Rain then showers. Drunken haze
Cold comfort. Moderate becoming good
North Rockall
Mainly westerly 6 to gale 8. Rain or thundery showers. Exhaustion. Boredom. Decay
Moderate or poor
Malin Hebrides
Cyclonic becoming reality, occasionally gale 8
Backing southerly later. Broken and disorientated
Rain or showers. Moderatation lacking
Bailey
Southerly veering westerly 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5. Numb. Defeated. Freezing fog. Stranded
Dull aches. Poorly
Fair Isle Faeroes
Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, then westerly 5 to 7
Toil, occasional stupidity
Sullen. Rain. Moderate or good
Southeast Iceland
Southeasterly 5 to 7, twisted occasionally gale 8
Veering westerly in south. Corroded and empty. Ice forming
Heligoland
Planet-struck and spellbound
The wreck of matter and the crush of worlds