Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low 200 miles southwest of Iceland 961 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at first in east, otherwise squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Southerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind
Southerly 6 to gale 8 veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.

Forties

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing southerly or southwesterly later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing southerly or southwesterly later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in northeast, slight or moderate in southwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing southerly or southwesterly later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing southerly or southwesterly later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
In west, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing southerly or southwesterly later. In east, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then veering westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
In west, showers. In east, rain then showers.
Visibility
In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then veering westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

German Bight

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then veering westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Humber

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then veering westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Thames

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then veering westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dover

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then veering westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Wight

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 veering westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Portland

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly in north but becoming variable 2 to 4 in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly, backing northeasterly later in west, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly in north but becoming variable 2 to 4 in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in north.
Weather
Occasional rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West backing southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Squally showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
West backing southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in south.
Weather
Squally showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
West backing southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in north and east, very rough or high south and west.
Weather
Squally showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
West backing southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 backing southwesterly soon

Wind
West backing south or southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Squally thundery showers, then rain.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, then backing southwesterly soon

Wind
West backing south or southwest, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state
High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Squally thundery showers, then rain.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 backing southwesterly soon

Wind
West backing south or southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Squally thundery showers, then rain.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
West backing south or southwest, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state
High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Squally thundery showers, then rain.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 backing southwesterly imminent, then decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
Southwest becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state
Very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Squally thundery showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time in west.
Weather
Squally thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 now veered southwesterly and decreased gale force 8, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time in south.
Weather
Squally thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 backing northerly imminent

Wind
Northeasterly backing northwesterly 6 to gale 8 until later in north, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very high at first in south, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather
Rain, snow or wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Shipping forecast information

The shipping forecast is issued four times a day at 2300, 0500, 1100, 1700 UTC and covers a period of 24 hours from 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 UTC respectively.

The waters around the British Isles are divided into 31 sea areas shown on the map.

The forecast contains details of gale warnings in force, a general synopsis and sea-area forecasts containing wind direction and force, sea state, weather and visibility.

Gale warnings are issued as required throughout the day (for winds of Gale Force 8 or more).

Marine forecasts disclaimer

In the UK, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is responsible for the provision of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) to ships at sea, which includes the broadcast of warnings and forecasts. The Met Office initiates warnings and prepares routine forecasts for dissemination on behalf of the MCA.

Caution: The internet is not part of the Maritime Safety Information system and should never be relied upon as the only means to obtain the latest forecast and warning information. Access to the service may be interrupted or delayed from time to time, updates may also be delayed.

Please refer to GMDSS services, INMARSAT SafetyNET or international NAVTEX for the latest information. When using these web pages, always check that the page on your screen is not from your cache. Use the Refresh or Reload button if in any doubt.