Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Denmark 1006 expected north Germany 1003 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, then veering northeasterly 3 to 4 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly north, 5 to 7, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Northwest backing west later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Northwest backing west later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first , becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first , becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 23 Apr 2024

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6 in south, otherwise northwesterly 3 to 4.
Sea state: Slight to moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in west, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in west, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

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

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches in northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northeast.

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.