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France: Visual Signals

 Weather

When strong wind conditions prevail or are imminent, a system of daylight visual signals (distinct from normal coastal lights) is set up on some harbours' jetties. These signals are made of two white lights with two flashes and one extinction, visible at a maximum of 5 nautical miles.

Description:

Light position Light characteristics Meaning
Off - Local winds less than F6 or wind forecast less than or equal too F6 within the next six hours
Stage 1 Intermittent rapid flash Wind forecast greater than F6 within the next six hours
Stage 2 Rapid Flash Local winds greater than F6 or wind forecast greater than F6 within the next three hours

Location :

Such lights signals have been installed in the following locations :

  • EnglishChannel:
    • Ouistreham
  • Atlantic:
    • Port-Navalo
    • Chemoulin
  • Mediterranean:
    • St-Cyprien
    • Garoupe semaphore on Antibes Cape
    • Bormes-les-mimosas harbour
    • St-Pierre harbour in Hyères
    • Pomègues semaphore in Marseille harbour
    • Grande Motte harbour.
EASTERN N.ATLANTIC MEDITERRANEAN CARIBBEAN