Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low Fastnet 1009 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Viking

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest and 3 in northeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7, then perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3. In southwest, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Southeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
Weather
Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind
Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first in west.
Sea state
Mainly smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate at first in north.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first.
Sea state
Mainly smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind
Variable, becoming east or northeast for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Variable, becoming east or northeast for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
Variable, becoming east or northeast for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable, becoming east or northeast for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in east.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in south but becoming variable 2 to 4 in north. In northwest, northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
In southeast, showers, becoming fair later. In northwest, showers, then rain later.
Visibility
In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, becoming moderate or poor later in west.

Sole

Wind
Northerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor later in west.

Lundy

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind
Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Rough at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 4 to 6, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 4 to 6, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first but increasing 7 later in southwest, perhaps gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northeasterly 5 to 7 at first in northwest, otherwise southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough except in far east, then very rough later in far west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally 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.