Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Atlantic low 957 moving northwards expected 200 miles southwest of Iceland 968 by midnight tonight

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

North Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Cromarty

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Forth

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Tyne

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dogger

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly violent storm force 11 decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
Westerly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming mainly moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind
Westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate, occasionally slight later in south.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5 at first, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

Wind
Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, but 6 or 7 in far southeast, veering westerly or southwesterly later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind
Variable 3 or less at first in southeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east, and high at times later in southwest.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, high at times in west.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, and increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, but becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Fair,.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasional severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering south 6 to gale 8, but decreasing 3 to 5 later in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northwest.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally moderate in south, but very rough at times in north and west.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southeasterly storm force 10 expected later

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7, increasing 8 to storm 10, veering south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming mainly high later.
Weather
Rain.
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.