Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low moving rapidly northeast, expected 150 miles west of Rockall 964 by midday tomorrow. New low expected Fisher 1011 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 now backed southeasterly

Wind
In west, cyclonic 4 to 6. In east, southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 later.
Sea state
In west, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. in east, rough or very rough, occasionally high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
In west, rain. In east, sleet.
Visibility
In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 now backed southeasterly

Wind
Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Sleet.
Visibility
Poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

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

Wind
Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Sleet.
Visibility
Poor.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
In east, cyclonic 6 to gale 8 decreasing 3 to 5. In west, westerly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In east, moderate or rough. in west, slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
In east, rain. In west, rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

German Bight

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Humber

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwest, backing southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 at first in southwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 in southeast.
Sea state
Very rough or high at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In southeast, northeasterly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. In northwest, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
In southeast, rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather
In southeast, fair. In northwest, occasional rain.
Visibility
In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon, veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind
West 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly soon, increasing storm force 10 later

Wind
West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Malin

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 imminent, backing southeasterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind
West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwest 3 to 5, then southeast gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather
Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 to 5, then southeast gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
Weather
Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southeasterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 to 5, then southeast gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly southwest at first, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly southwest at first, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough or high until later in west, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly southwest at first, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Squally 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.

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