Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low Spain 1012 slow-moving, filling 1013 by midday tomorrow, new low expected Portland 1012 by same time. High Baltic sea 1027 also slow-moving, filling 1028 by that time

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sat 11 May 2024.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 11 May 2024 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 12 May 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches, then fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches, then fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first near shore.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 10 May 2024

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later near portugal, occasionally cyclonic 5 or 6 near strait of gibraltar.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly backing southerly or southwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in far southeast and later in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly backing southerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fastnet

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.