Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Germany 1004 expected Humber 999 by midday tomorrow. Lows FitzRoy 1014 and Shannon 1011 losing their identities

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Tue 21 May 2024.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 21 May 2024 to 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 May 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In east, easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. In west, easterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: In east, showers. In west, showers, then rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers, then rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: East, veering southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: East, veering southeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair then thundery rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far northeast.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 20 May 2024

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then becoming rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Tue 21 May 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. In west, northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate becoming rough. in west, rough or very rough.
Weather: In east, showers, perhaps thundery. In west, rain then showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first except in northwest, otherwise northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight until later in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight until later in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6. In west, northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough. in west, rough at first in south, otherwise moderate.
Weather: In east, rain or showers, perhaps thundery. In west, rain then showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, good, occasionally poor at first.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain and fog patches at first in east, otherwise showers.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor at first in east, otherwise good.

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.