Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

New low expected Plymouth 998 by 0600 tomorrow. Low Irish Sea 985 losing its identity.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in far southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional snow.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind
In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest.
Sea state
In northeast, rough or very rough. in southwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
In northeast, occasional snow. In southwest, occasional rain.
Visibility
In northeast, moderate or poor. In southwest, moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

German Bight

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Humber

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Biscay

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
High at first in far north, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind
West or southwest becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind
West or southwest becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind
Cyclonic becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far south.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state
Very rough, occasionally high at first in south and later also in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far southwest.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northwest.
Sea state
Rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

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.