Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Germany 998 expected Humber 1004 by 1800 Friday. Low just northwest of FitzRoy 1005 expected FitzRoy 1004 by same time

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 2 May 2024.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 3 May 2024 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 May 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

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

Forth

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

Tyne

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

Dogger

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly veering southeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Thu 2 May 2024

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Occasionally very poor at first, otherwise, good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Southwesterly backing southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in southeast, otherwise southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Thu 2 May 2024

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in north, otherwise southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later except in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly veering southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly veering southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly veering southeasterly later, except in far north, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
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.