Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Germany 1003 expected Dogger 997 by 1800 Thursday. New low expected 200 miles west of Shannon 1007 by same time. New low expected Iceland 1017 by that time.

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024 to 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight to moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight to moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight to moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5, but cyclonic 2 or 3 for a time in east.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight in moray firth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight in moray firth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest, veering north or northwest, veering northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Mainly moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

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

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

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

Thames

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing westerly or southwesterly for a time, 3 to 5 , occasionally 6 later, veering northeasterly 3 or 4 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming west or southwest 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming west or southwest 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming west or southwest 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Northwest veering northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly becoming variable for a time, 2 to 4 increasing 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, veering northeasterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwesterly 2 to 4 increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:45 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In southwest, northwesterly 2 to 4 increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west . In northeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In southwest, slight, becoming moderate or rough. in northeast, slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, but mainly rough later.
Weather: In southwest, occasional rain. In northeast, occasional rain.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally moderate. In northeast, good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, but mainly rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Sight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Sight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Sight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.