Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Hebrides 979 expected 150 miles northeast of Iceland 997 by 1800 Monday

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
South 4 to 6 backing southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Cromarty

Wind
South 4 to 6 backing southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Forth

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind
Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in southwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

German Bight

Wind
Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Humber

Wind
Southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind
Southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
Southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
Southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
Southwest 2 to 4, backing south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
Southwest 2 to 4, backing south 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
West, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind
West backing south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
West backing south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southwest.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
West 3 or 4 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough at first and moderate later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind
Southwest, backing south or southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Southwest, backing south or southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Variable 3 at first in far north, otherwise westerly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
In east, cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. In west, cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state
In east, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough. in west, moderate or rough.
Weather
In east, rain or showers, squally at first. In west, showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
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.