Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Spain 1011 slow-moving with little change by 1800 Sunday. New low expected west of Shannon 999 by same time. High Baltic sea 1026 slow-moving, filling 1025 by that time

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 11 May 2024.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 12 May 2024 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 13 May 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South backing southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches, then fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches, then fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches, then fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate later.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate later.

Wight

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Biscay

Wind: Westerly, becoming cyclonic for a time, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, occasionally 4 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate and later poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, occasionally 4 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional 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.