Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low FitzRoy 1005 expected Plymouth 1002 by 1800 on Sunday. Low northwest Scotland 1005 expected Fair Isle by same time with little change. New low expected Denmark 1003 by that time

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 4 May 2024.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 5 May 2024 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 May 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasional moderate at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasional moderate at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasional moderate at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasional moderate at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasional moderate at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable becoming northwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in southeast.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers for a time, heavy and thundery in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

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

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. In north, cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, occasional rain or thundery showers. In north, rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers or fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7 at first in far southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers with fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers with fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers with 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.