Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low FitzRoy 998 expected northern France 995 by midnight tonight. Low northwest FitzRoy 1000 loses its identity.

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 27 Apr 2024.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 27 Apr 2024 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, backing northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, backing northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, backing northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, backing northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, backing northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, backing northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 or perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: East or southeast becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Mainly slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Mainly slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Mainly slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 4 to 6, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 4 to 6, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 4 to 6, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 4 to 6, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Sat 27 Apr 2024

Westerly gale force 8 expected imminent increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in south, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly north or northwest, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in east fiztroy.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: North 5 to 7, occasionally cyclonic 4 at first in east, backing northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: North 5 to 7, backing northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, backing north or northwest later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 at first, backing north or northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, backing north or northwest later.
Sea state: Sea smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: North 3 to 5, backing west or northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4 at first, becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, occasionally slight later in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4 at first, becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, but occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Sat 27 Apr 2024

Gale force 8 veering northeast imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming east or southeast later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry 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.