Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Developing low moving east expected 150 miles west of Southeast Iceland 1002 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 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 northerly 3 to 5 later except in west.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable mainly northerly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable mainly northerly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable mainly northerly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in south.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Fisher

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in west.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 17 May 2024

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: North or northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches and showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, veering southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northeasterly veering easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
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.