Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low north FitzRoy 1002 expected Plymouth 1011 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind
In west, cyclonic 4, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7. In east, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In west, moderate or rough. in east, rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
In west, showers. In east, occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in northeast.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind
Cyclonic becoming west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain and fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

German Bight

Wind
Cyclonic becoming west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain and fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

Humber

Wind
Cyclonic becoming west or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain and fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

Thames

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Southwest veering northeast, then south later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Southwest veering northeast, then south later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

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, becoming southwesterly later, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times, but occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In east, cyclonic, becoming southwesterly later, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times. In west, northerly 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
In east, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough. in west, rough or very rough.
Weather
In east, thundery showers. In west, occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Northwest backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind
Northwest backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind
Northwest backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West backing south or southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West backing south or southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in north.
Weather
Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming west 5 to 7, backing south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain later.
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.