Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low northwest FitzRoy 995 expected northeast FitzRoy 1007 by midnight tonight

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind
In west, cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming westerly 6 or 7 later. In east, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In west, very rough at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough. in east, rough or very rough.
Weather
In west, rain or showers. In east, rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in far northeast, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming westerly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming westerly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in east, slight or moderate in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming westerly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind
Easterly 5 to 7 at first in northeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 backing southerly imminent

Forecast issued:

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, then veering northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather
Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 now backed southerly, veering northerly soon

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, then decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in southwest.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming north or northwest 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming north or northwest 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming north or northwest 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Northwest 5 or 6 backing west 3 to 5, then south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Northwest 5 or 6 backing west 3 to 5, then south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or 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.