Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low 1001 Norwegian Basin expected South Utsire 1013 by midnight tonight. Low 1000 Fisher expected 1002 poland by same time.

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024 to 06:00 (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 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in far east.
Weather: Showers, wintry later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, then northerly 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but very rough far west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, then northerly 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but very rough far west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
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: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

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: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

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: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

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 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

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

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, but 4 or 5 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

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

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

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

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering east or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering east or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering east or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering east or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6 in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
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 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, but cyclonic 2 to 4 later in far south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Northwest veering east or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5 occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5 occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest backing southwest later, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest backing southwest later, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

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 in west, decreasing 3 to 5 later in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7 becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough at first in far southeast.
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.