Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Atlantic high 1027 expected Malin 1030 by 0600 tomorrow. Low German Bight 997 moving away southeast

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough occasionally high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in east and slight later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: In northeast, northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5. In southwest, easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Wind: Variable 3 to 4, but increasing easterly 6 to gale 8 near straight of gibraltar.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but cyclonic 5 to 7 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in central area.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Northeast 3 or 4 veering southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight later in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 veering northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable, becoming southwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable, becoming southwest, 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Variable, becoming southwest, 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain, but.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected imminent

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 5 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwesterly 5 or 6 at first in east, otherwise easterly 3 to 5, veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, but rough until later in east.
Weather: Wintry showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly 3 to 5, veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers then rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, but very poor later.

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.