Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Atlantic low moving rapidly east expected Plymouth 974 by 1800 Friday. Low near Shannon 970 expected Rockall 974 by same time.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
In southwest, southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9. In northeast, southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
In southwest, very rough. in northeast, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
In southwest, good, occasionally poor. In northeast, good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor. Light icing.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9. In southwest, southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state
In northeast, rough or very rough. in southwest, rough or very rough.
Weather
In northeast, wintry showers. In southwest, wintry showers or rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers or rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in west.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time , perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind
Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high for a time in west.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Mainly westerly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time in north.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in southeast.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, increasing violent storm force 11 later

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 for a time in north.
Sea state
High or very high, occasionally very rough at first in east.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly and increasing storm force 10 imminent

Wind
Cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high becoming high or very high.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Lundy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly soon

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering east 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time in south.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind
In south, cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. In north, cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
In south, mainly high, occasionally very high at first. in north, very rough or high.
Weather
In south, squally showers. In north, showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
In southwest, cyclonic 4 to 6. In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state
In southwest, very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather
In southwest, showers. In northeast, squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time west.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, except in north.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time in south.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Showers.
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.