Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

High just west of Bailey 1034 slow-moving, declining 1029 by midnight tonight. New low expected eastern German Bight 1005 by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Tue 23 Apr 2024.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 23 Apr 2024 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In east, northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. In west, northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Rain at first in southeast, otherwise showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in east, slight or moderate in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic mainly northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic mainly northerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first except in northwest, otherwise northwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain for a time, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain for a time, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: North or northeast, backing northwest for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in east.
Weather: Occasional rain, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: North or northeast, backing northwest for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northeast, backing northwest for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming north or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In north, northerly or northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east. in north, slight or moderate.
Weather: In south, showers in east. In north, showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable mainly north 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable mainly north 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in southeast and 3 in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: North or northwest 2 or 3.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in east and 3 in west.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in north.

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.