Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Atlantic low 989 expected just west of Bailey 997 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough except.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5 in northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, but moderate at first in southeast.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5 later in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in northwest.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, southwesterly 3 to 5 in northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
In southeast, rough or very rough. in northwest, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather
In southeast, rain. In northwest, rain or showers.
Visibility
In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7 backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough occasionally slight.
Weather
Thundery showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwest 6 to gale 8, backing south 5 to 7.
Sea state
Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly south, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly south, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly south, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly southeast, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Rain, fog patches, squally showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly southeast, 5 to 7, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Rain, fog patches, squally showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough at first in north and moderate later in west.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.