Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Fastnet 999 expected FitzRoy 998 by 0600 tomorrow. New lows expected Biscay 993 and Faeroes 1006 by same time. Lows German Bight 1000 and FitzRoy 999 losing their identities by that time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024 to 12:00 (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 east.
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 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5 at first in northeast, otherwise variable becoming southeasterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

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

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

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

Humber

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

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but rough at first in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
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

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

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

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

Lundy

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

Fastnet

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

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

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

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: North 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: North 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 or 5 later.
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 later.
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: Variable 3 or less at first in west, otherwise northerly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
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.