Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High just west of Bailey 1033 expected Bailey 1026 by 0600 tomorrow. New low expected German Bight 1003 by same time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Tue 23 Apr 2024.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 23 Apr 2024 to 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first except in west, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first except in east, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In east, northerly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later. In west, northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough. in west, moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, showers. In west, showers.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northerly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: North 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate except in west.
Weather: Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in south.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 22 Apr 2024

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In north, northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east and later elsewhere. in north, slight or moderate.
Weather: In south, showers in east. In north, mainly fair.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good.

Sole

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

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

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northerly backing northwesterly later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in east and 3 in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: North backing northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable, mainly westerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair, fog patches in far north.
Visibility: Mainly good, occasionally very poor in far north.

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.