Secure your boat and head out with peace of mind by subscribing to BMS (Special Marine Bulletins) alerts. Get near-gale, gale and storm warnings by email as soon as Météo-France issues a BMS for your zone.
Mediterranean
Get BMS alerts for your area by email · Cancel anytime
Corsica
Spanish Border → Port Camargue
Port Camargue → Saint Raphaël
Saint Raphaël → Menton
Channel / Atlantic
Get BMS alerts for your area by email · Cancel anytime
Belgian Border → Bay of Somme
Bay of Somme → Cape La Hague
Cape La Hague → Penmarc’h
Penmarc’h → Aiguillon Cove
Aiguillon Cove → Spanish Border
FAQ
How does the BMS Alert service work ?
Météo-France issues a BMS whenever the expected average wind exceeds force 7 (strong breeze, gale, storm). By subscribing to the BMS Alert service, you will receive an email each time a BMS is issued in your navigation area.
As soon as a BMS is forecasted or updated, you will receive an email like this :
What are the navigation areas ?
The divisions are based on the coastal bulletins from Météo-France.
Can I receive BMS alerts at sea ?
Technically, yes, as long as your phone has a signal. The emails are only a few kilobytes (between 5 and 15 KB), so you can easily receive them even when the signal is not optimal.
Please note that the BMS Alert Service is not a GMDSS broadcasting system; it is an informational navigation aid and does not replace VHF monitoring or standard weather reports (Météo-France).
What is the frequency of email notifications ?
Emails are sent each time a BMS is issued or updated. You will receive an initial email about 24 hours before the gale, followed by updates in the morning and evening, and sometimes at noon, although this is not a fixed rule. Once the gale has passed, you will not receive any more emails until the next BMS.
Can I subscribe to multiple areas with a single email address ?
Currently, it is not possible to subscribe to multiple areas with the same email address.
How can I change the email address where I receive alerts ?
You can modify your email address in the ‘My Profile’ section.
What is the setup time for the subscription ?
The subscription starts automatically as soon as :
– your credit card payment is approved
– you have completed the creation of your account
Your subscription will be fully operational a few hours after the validation of your subscription.
I have been subscribed for several days; why haven’t I received any BMS alerts yet ?
Several possibilities :
– no BMS is currently forecasted or ongoing in your area : check
– the emails may be going to your spam folder : check your junk mail
I have been subscribed for a long time, why am I no longer receiving BMS alerts ?
You may have canceled your subscription or your credit card may have expired. Check that your subscription is active in the ‘My Account’ section. If it is not, you will need to re-subscribe to continue receiving BMS alerts.
How can I find out the end date of my subscription ?
Go to the ‘My Account’ section to check the expiration date of your subscription.
How can I cancel my subscription ?
Go to the ‘My Account’ section and click on ‘Cancel my subscription.’ Your subscription will end within 24 hours.
What data do you collect ?
The strict minimum : an email address, a username (which can be your email address), and an encrypted password (which no one can read).
The information you provide is only used to send you emails related to BMS alerts (the alerts themselves and possibly service-related emails).
The data is retained for the duration of your subscription so that you can receive BMS alerts and manage your account online.
In case of subscription cancellation, your data is kept for one year to facilitate re-subscription. After this period, your data will be deleted from our servers.
Where can I view the terms of sale ?
You can find them here (in French) : Conditions Générales de Vente and Conditions Particulières pour le Service Alerte BMS.
Did you not find answers to your questions in the FAQ ? Contact us !