Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Dogger 998 expected Denmark 1004 by 1800 Friday. New low expected Sole 997 by same time. Low 250 miles west of Shannon 1005 expected FitzRoy 998 by that time.

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 27 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

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

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, backing northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate until later.

Forties

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly becoming cyclonic, 2 to 4, occasionally southeasterly 5 until later in far northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Northeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in far south, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in far south, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly backing northeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in far east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally easterly or northeasterly 6 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally easterly or northeasterly 6 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but rough for a time in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly then becoming variable later, 2 to 4, occasionally easterly or northeasterly 5 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate but rough for a time in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

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: Westerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in south.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

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

Hebrides

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

Bailey

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 in far west and occasionally 7 later in far north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: 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.