Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

new low expected Dogger 998 by midday tomorrow. High Rockall 1023 expected to dissipate.

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

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

Forties

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly later, 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 later, 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 northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 or 3, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, but occasionally north or northwest 5 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 or 3 in far east, otherwise northerly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Humber

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Thames

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Portland

Wind: 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 later.

Plymouth

Wind: 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 later.

Biscay

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

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 23 Apr 2024

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, but northeast 6 at first in southeast and occasionally 6 later in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far southeast and later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, but occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4..
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 for a time, occasionally northwesterly 6 later in west.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
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: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
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: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 5 to 7 except in northeast, occasionally gale 8 in.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Variable becoming northeasterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable becoming northeasterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Variable becoming northeasterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Sight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Sight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Sight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first in far northeast, otherwise fair.
Visibility: Poor or very poor at first in northeast, otherwise 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.