Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Humber 1003 moving away slowly eastwards

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Viking

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly, 5 to 7 in west but 3 to 5 in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather
Wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly, 5 to 7 in west but 3 to 5 in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in east, rough or very rough in west.
Weather
Wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
North or northwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
North or northwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in west, rough or very rough in east.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
North or northwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind
Northerly, backing northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
Cyclonic mainly northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
Cyclonic mainly northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east but becoming rough for a time in west.
Weather
Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far northwest.
Weather
Rain, then squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, veering north 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, veering north 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, veering north 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
North or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in north.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
North or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in northeast.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
Westerly 3 or 4 at first in south, otherwise northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in south.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind
Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind
Northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind
North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in north.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in north.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
North 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
North 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
North 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
North 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
North 5 to 7 decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Northerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northerly 5 or 6 until later in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Very rough until later in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Snow showers, mainly in east.
Visibility
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.