Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Humber 999 losing its identity by midnight tonight. New low expected Sole 998 by same time. Low 100 miles west of Sole 1001 expected Biscay 998 by that time. Low Norwegian Basin 1003 expected Faeroes 1006 by midnight tonight.

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024 to 06:00 (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 3 or less becoming easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic, 2 to 4, occasionally southeasterly 5 at first in far northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

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

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly backing northeasterly, 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.
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, otherwise 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 until later 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 until later 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: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate but rough for a time in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

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: Northwest becoming cyclonic for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:32 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

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

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:32 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 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 far 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, occasionally southeasterly 5 in far northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

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

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later, but variable 3 or less in far west until later.
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.