Shipping forecast and gale warnings

GALE WARNINGS

Gale warnings have been issued for the sea areas coloured in red on the map below.

Click on a region to see the shipping forecast and any gale warnings for that area.

Updated: 0400 UTC on Sat 04 Feb 2012

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.

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You are using a mobile device. Below are the text versions of the shipping forecast and gale warnings.

The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, on Saturday 04 February 2012 at 0015 UTC

There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Biscay, Trafalgar, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes, South-east Iceland.

The General synopsis at 1800

Low 300 miles southwest of Iceland 985 expected just north of Iceland 986 by 1800 Saturday. High Plymouth 1041 expected south Fitzroy with little change by same time

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, East Forties

Southerly 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough, occasionally high in Viking. Occasional snow. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

West Forties, Cromarty

Southerly 5, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in Cromarty. Rain and snow for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Forth, Tyne

South 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally very rough. Rain and snow for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

Dogger

South 5, increasing 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough. Snow showers, snow later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later

Fisher, German Bight

Southeast 4, increasing 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Snow showers. Good, occasionally poor

Humber, Thames

Southeast, backing south, 4, increasing 5 to 7. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Snow showers, snow later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later

Dover, Wight

Northeast, backing south, 4 or 5, increasing 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Snow showers, sleet later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later

Portland, Plymouth, North Biscay

Variable, becoming southerly, 4, increasing 5 to 7, then veering westerly later. Slight, becoming moderate or rough. Fair then rain. Good, becoming moderate or poor

South Biscay

Northerly, backing westerly later, 5 or 6. Moderate, occasionally very rough later. Fair then sleet. Good, becoming poor

Trafalgar (Issued 0015 UTC Sat 04 Feb)

Northeasterly 5 or 6, becoming variable 4. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good

Northwest FitzRoy, Sole

Southwesterly, veering westerly, 5 to 7. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west Sole. Occasional rain. Moderate, occasionally poor

Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea

South, veering northwest later, 5 to 7. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain then fair. Good, occasionally poor

Shannon

Southwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4 later. Rough, becoming very rough. Occasional rain. Moderate, occasionally poor

Rockall, Malin

South 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 to 7. Rough or very rough, becoming high in north Rockall. Rain then showers. Moderate or poor, becoming good

Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes, South-east Iceland

Southerly, veering westerly, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 in Fair Isle. Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in Bailey and Southeast Iceland. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor

Sea area gale warnings, issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Last updated on Saturday 04 February 2012 at 0400 UTC.

All gale warnings currently in force

Viking, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 1526 UTC
     Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

North Utsire, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 1526 UTC
     Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

South Utsire, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 1526 UTC
     Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Forties, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 1526 UTC
     Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Cromarty, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 2156 UTC
     Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Forth, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 1526 UTC
     Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Tyne, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 1526 UTC
     Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Dogger, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 1526 UTC
     Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Biscay, issued on Saturday 04 February 2012 at 0356 UTC
     Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Trafalgar, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 2156 UTC
     Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Shannon, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 1526 UTC
     Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Rockall, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 2140 UTC
     Southerly gale force 8 continuing, veering southwesterly imminent

Malin, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 2156 UTC
     Gale force 8, veering southwesterly soon

Hebrides, issued on Saturday 04 February 2012 at 0356 UTC
     Severe gale force 9 veering southwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Bailey, issued on Saturday 04 February 2012 at 0356 UTC
     Severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Fair Isle, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 0949 UTC
     Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Faeroes, issued on Friday 03 February 2012 at 2156 UTC
     Southerly gale force 8, increasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Southeast Iceland, issued on Saturday 04 February 2012 at 0356 UTC
     Severe gale force 9 veering westerly soon