Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

New low expected northeast of Iceland 1001 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Viking

Wind
Northerly, backing northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Rough becoming mainly moderate.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Northerly, backing northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Mainly moderate.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Northerly, backing northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Mainly moderate.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
Northerly, backing northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Rough becoming mainly moderate.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
North, backing southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 continue

Wind
North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough becoming moderate.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 continue

Wind
North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough occasionally very rough, becoming moderate.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in east, otherwise moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. In northwest, northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 later, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good.

Sole

Wind
Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 later, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Lundy

Wind
North 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
North 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
North 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
North 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
North 5 at first in east, otherwise variable 3, becoming west or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
North 5 to 7, backing northwest 4, then southwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
North 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Rain or 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.