Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Norwegian Basin 1000 expected Forties 1006 by midnight tonight. Low German Bight 991 losing its identity

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 17 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

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

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In east, northeasterly, backing northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6. In west, northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough. in west, moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, showers. In west, squally showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8 at first in far southwest, otherwise 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 16:10 (UTC) on Mon 15 Apr 2024

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Squally showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 16:10 (UTC) on Mon 15 Apr 2024

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Squally showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate in west.
Weather: Squally showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Squally showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

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

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 15 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In south, northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. In north, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far south. in north, morate or rough.
Weather: In south, showers. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

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

Lundy

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

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Wind: North or northwest, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: North or northwest, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Mon 15 Apr 2024

Gale now ceased but northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: In east, northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east, decreasing 2 to 4 later. In west, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: In east, rough or very rough, occasionally high in east, becoming moderate or rough later. in west, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: In east, squally showers. In west, squally wintry showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then rain later.
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.