Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low Norwegian Basin 1004 expected Southeast Iceland 1007 by midday tomorrow. Lows German Bight 1002, Lundy 1000, Fastnet 1000 and FitzRoy 999 all losing their identities by same time. New low expected Biscay 994 by that time

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 27 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 3 or less later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less at times in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

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

Cromarty

Wind: Variable becoming east or southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Variable becoming east or southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable becoming east or southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable becoming east or southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

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

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic becoming mainly northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic becoming mainly northeast, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic becoming mainly northeast, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in south, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in south, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in south, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in south, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in southeast, perhaps severe gale 9 later in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later in southeast.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic becoming mainly north, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northeasterly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

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

Malin

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

Hebrides

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

Bailey

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: North 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:39 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly veering northeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or 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.