Weather Fax Transmissions from XSG Shanghai, China

Earlier last week, for the very first time I received weather fax transmission from XSG Shanghai in PR China. The received images were of charts mapping sea conditions from China’s east coast up past Japan and the Korean Peninsula. The signal and overall reception was very satisfactory imho.

Weatherfax is a unique and important broadcast service that transmits actual images over HF radio — anything from synoptic charts to wave maps — as audio tones decoded into graphics. These convey essential details about wave height, direction, and period. Mariners can use them to avoid dangerous sea states, optimize fuel use, and plan safer routes.

XSG is part of China’s national maritime network, broadcasting navigation warnings, weather updates, and safety information to a broad swath of the Northwest Pacific. These HF transmissions can reach far beyond coastal coverage and remain accessible to anyone with the right receiver and decoder.
For a radio hobbyist, part of the fascination lies in the process: the signal’s journey through the ionosphere, the subtle image imperfections caused by propagation, and the satisfaction of pulling a clean, usable chart out of the static. For professional mariners, these forecasts remain a trusted fallback when satellite communications fail.

From a science standpoint, each chart represents the end result of countless observations, model simulations, and careful processing — all rendered into a simple black-and-white format optimized for HF transmission.

I am quite excited to log these charts from the XSG station for the first time. As always receiving weather fax remains immensely fascinating to me.

Date: August 03, 2025
Location: Howrah, WB. India.

Station: XSG - Shanghai, PR China

Thank you so much for your kind attention. Comments, suggestions and correction (if required), will be very much appreciated.

- Soumya Bhattacharya

 

Tropical Storm 'Podul' - FAX Transmissions Received From JMH Tokyo

Today, on August 10, 2025 -  I received a set of marine HF weatherfax charts from the Japan Meteorological Agency’s JMH Tokyo station. The batch included a standard test image, the Himawari satellite photo, an ocean wave forecast, and a typhoon forecast chart showing the current typhoon/ tropical system, Podul.

JMH Tokyo is a regular provider of HF radiofax transmissions for ships at sea and coastal users. Its schedule covers surface analyses, multi-day weather forecasts, Satellite imagery, sea state predictions, and tropical cyclone updates. The radiofax format is designed for reliability over long distances, compact enough to survive the shortcomings of HF propagation and still be received clearly by modest shipboard equipment.

The transmission was quite well received with clear images.

The satellite image offers a visible snapshot of cloud patterns across the western Northwest Pacific — perfect for tracking convective systems, identifying storm's development, and analyzing frontal bands (when visible). Such imagery feeds directly into numerical models and gives forecasters a clear, near-real-time picture, even for vessels far from internet or satellite links.

The ocean wave chart showed modeled wave heights and swell directions for the East China Sea, the Sea of Japan, and nearby Pacific waters. These products blend atmospheric wind forecasts with spectral wave models to estimate wave height, dominant period, and direction — essential for ship routing, fishing fleets, offshore work, and coastal safety planning.

Podul’s typhoon forecast chart depicted a strong tropical system with its projected path, intensity estimates, and wind field. Current guidance from JMA, JTWC, and other agencies suggested a west to west-northwest track toward Taiwan within 48–72 hours, possibly intensifying near landfall. Even if the center stayed offshore, its wind and wave field was expected to expand and affect a wide area. 

Other real-time observations confirmed growing wave heights in Podul’s quadrant — several meters in places exposed to its strongest winds, in line with the forecast chart. Mariners should treat these charts as part of a bigger risk picture, alongside wind forecasts, storm surge warnings, and local coastal information.

Date: August 10, 2025
Location: Howrah, WB. India.

Station: JMH Tokyo, Japan

Thank you so much for your kind attention. Comments, suggestions and correction (if required), will be very much appreciated.

- Soumya Bhattacharya

 

Weather Fax Reception Logs: March 25, 2025

Last night I logged several HF Weather Fax transmission from the DWD Pinneberg Weather Station, in Germany.

Now, I was almost inactive since the coronavirus pandemic and decided to start listening to the radio again. So I am trying to revive this blog and share my reception radio logs again.

While I am still trying to overcome a recurring and annoying technical issue in receiving fax on my laptop, the web receiver in Germany came handy. Though this will be almost a local reception for this web rx, but still the reception was not that good for what it should be.

DWD Pinneberg - Hamburg, Germany:

This is a weather Fax station operated by the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD). The station is located in Pinneberg, which is located about 20 Km northwest of Hamburg in Germany.
The station mainly targets mariners and other users of weather data, and broadcasts marine weather reports, weather maps or fax/ facsimile and texts in radio teletype mostly over shortwave and longwave.

Date: Match 25, 2025
Location: Howrah, WB. India.

Time: 1400 UTC onwards.
Receiver: Remote receiver at Germany
Station: DWD Radio Pinneberg, Germany

The transmission was received with a poor to fair signal. While I think the image was well received, the signal was not enough for a clear - readable picture. After the broadcast schedules (I'm not posting here), DWD transmitted their regular and Ice Charts for North Atlantic, Baltic and adjoining region.

Thank you so much for your kind attention. Comments, suggestions and correction (if required), will be very much appreciated.

- Soumya Bhattacharya

Weather Fax Reception Logs

Surface Prognosis. © Northwood Fax, UK

Weather Fax Reception logs:

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to receive several meteorological weather charts on the HF bands which I am sharing hereby.

Date: MAY 25, 2020
Location: Howrah, WB. India.
Receiver: Remote receivers.
Time: From 0700 to 1400 UTC.
Decoder: MultiPSK

Please kindly note that all these images are received using remote receivers. The fax chart data and the fax images are owned by respective agencies duly credited below.

(1) NORTHWOOD FAX, UNITED KINGDOM

Fax from Northwood FAX, United Kingdom was noted with 'Surface Prognosis' reports for Atlantic ocean region. I could not receive these charts properly due to some slanting error or other. I guess there was some issue with the audio? Not sure. This was the best image I could manage after several attempts.

(2) HLL2 KMA FAX, SOUTH KOREA:

Sea Surface Forecast. © HLL2, KMA

HLL2 WeFAX from South Korea Metrological Association's broadcast was noted with multiple weather charts. I am sharing two of them here.

This 'no data' blank transmission was the typhoon bulletin as per the broadcast schedule, which likely had no new update. This was followed by 'Sea Surface Forecast' ('FWAS' stands for wave forecast predictions) for the region adjoining the Korean peninsula, Japan/ the Japan sea, and the Pacific ocean.

(3) JMH FAX, TOKYO, JAPAN:

FWPN Forecast. © JMH Fax via JMA Japan

JMH is one of my favourite stations for weather fax observations. I received some very interesting images during my observation period yesterday.

3a. 'ASAS - Surface Analysis Chart' & 'FWPN - Ocean Wave 24 hour forecast':

 "ASAS (Ocean Wave Live Chart)" chart presents wave observation data from fishing boats, commercial vessels, buoys, satellites, wave meters ets. This is sort of current information, supported by fresh data and automatic prediction models. "FWPN (Ocean Wave 24 hour forecast)" is the wave forecast 24 hour ahead of the ocean wave live map. Read more about these charts from the official source here.

ASAS Chart. © JMH Fax via JMA Japan

More help/ guidelines regarding understanding these fax charts can be found here. The Japan Meteorological Association's website is quite useful for meteorology enthusiasts and for concerned professionals. This can be accessed here (Japanese).

3c. Test Chart & Meteorological Satellite Picture:

I am quite happy about this chart (see below). This is the JMH Test Chart, and then the met Satellite Image from the Japan's Himawari Weather Satellite was noted: Himawari-8 ('Himawari' means 'Sunflower'). The Himawari Geostationary satellite(-s) is owned and operated by the  Japan Meteorological Agency/ JMA. These support weather forecasting, tropical cyclone tracking and meteorological research. Read more about these satellites here.

Test Chart & Met Satellite Image. © JMH Fax via JMA Japan

It is always so interesting to receive real images over the shortwave radio which remains fascinating as always. The test card contains some vital information about JMH frequencies and other details. There were some slanting issues here as well, but I am happy about the final result.

Thank you so much for your kind attention. Comments, suggestions and correction (if required), will be very much appreciated.

- Soumya Bhattacharya,

Typhoon Hagibis - JMH Weather Fax Updates

CNN report on Hagibis

By Himawari satellite

As Japan is hit by the great ‘Typhoon Hagibis’ since yesterday – October 12, 2019, I am frequently monitoring the weather fax charts from Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA; JMH station) since last few days. Here are some recent weather charts and satellite images from JMH Station which should be of some interest.

Typhoon Hagibis is a large and very strong tropical cyclone and is probably the greatest typhoon that Japan is experiencing in last six decades. This is the 19th typhoon and the third super typhoon formed under the 2019 Pacific Typhoon season.

DW Report on Hagibis

Japan cancelled all domestic and international flights due to the storm. Bullet trains and other public services were also cancelled. Special evacuations have been ordered for Guam, Marshall islands, Saipan and other islands and nations in the region.

Impact - Wikipedia as of October 13, 2019 - 0750 UTC:

"Guam and the Mariana Islands: The Mariana Islands were glanced by Typhoon Hagibis. Acting Governor Arnold Palacios began giving "all-clear" signals based on information from the National Weather Service and CNMI Emergency Operations Center. Communities have been cleaning up debris and all evacuation centers are now closed. Most utilities have been restored and businesses have been reopening.

Japan: Typhoon Hagibis making landfall on Japan, first on the Izu Peninsula and then near Yokohama. By around 5:00 p.m. JST on 12 October 2019, some areas of Japan suffered heavy flooding, with tens of thousands of homes lacking power. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that high winds could cause further flooding and landslides. The agency has issued evacuation advisories in high risk areas. Over 30 inches (76 cm) fell in parts of Japan. Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency has stated that at least 11 people have been confirmed dead and at least 124 others are injured. At least 15 people are confirmed missing. More than 270,000 households have lost power across the country. At around 6:21 p.m. JST, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred during the brunt of the rain, off the shore of Chiba. A large tornado also struck the Ichihara area of Chiba Prefecture."

I pray for the safety of the Japanese people and people of other countries in this area. The regular updates from the NHK World stream on Facebook are quite scary.

Please find below the the first received hf wefax picture (3622 kHz HF) on October 11, 2019 - that shows the Wave analysis of the region around Japan. This includes data on wind speed, wave heights and other details. This picture was received on October 11^th, hours before the landfall.

Wave Analysis data chart - from JMA/ JMH station - - received by Soumya Bhattacharya

Here is the second one, NOAA Himawari MSAT - satellite picture from JMA as typhoon Hagibis is already over Japan (7795 kHz HF). You can see the storm formation over almost all of Japan:

MSAT Image from JMA - JHM station - received by Soumya Bhattacharya

NHK Report on Hagibis

JMA's Weatherfax schedule can be found here:

- https://www.jma-net.go.jp/common/177jmh/JMH-ENG.pdf

I have used MultiPSK software on a HP Win7 laptop to receive the said transmission. Please note that shared weather fax image and the data in them are owned by the Japan Meteorological Bureau - JMA/ JMH, but the rx-ed/ received image is mine. Please kindly do not share or reproduce the above without asking.

 De

Soumya Bhattacharya, VU2YUO

West Bengal, India.

JMH WeFAX: Super Typhoon Hagibis

Daily Express on Hagibis

Yesterday on October 07 2019, I had the opportunity to log the JMH Meteorological Weather Fax from the Japan Meteorological Ahency (JMA),Tokyo.

The reception was relatively good but the image was not that clear due to deteriorating propagation, but I am still happy to receive it. Here it appears to be an update about the Typhoon #Hagibis to #Japan.

The ‘Weather Channel’ lists the typhoon as a Catagory 5 ‘Super typhoon’; while the Daily Express speculates that this can be the strongest on earth with winds touching 195mph.

JMH Weather Fax - de VU2YUO

My prayers and good wishes goes to the Japanese people and to the people of other countries in the region that might be affected by this typhoon. Please be safe.

JMA's Weatherfax schedule can be found here:

- https://www.jma-net.go.jp/common/177jmh/JMH-ENG.pdf

Here is the rx-ed image yesterday on October 07 2019:

I have used MultiPSK software on a HP Win7 laptop to receive the said transmission.

Please note that shared weather fax image and the data in them are owned by the Japan Meteorological Bureau - JMA/ JMH, but the rx-ed/ received image is mine. Please kindly do not share or reproduce the above without asking.

De

Soumya Bhattacharya

VU2YUO

West Bengal, India.

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