Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low 1001 Norwegian Basin expected North Utsire 1009 by 1800 Friday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering north or northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6 in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Variable 3 to 4, but increasing easterly 6 to gale 8 near straight of gibraltar.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, easterly or northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later in far south. In north, variable 2 to 4, occasionally easterly 5.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south later. in north, moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering north or northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6, veering north or northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, but southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected imminent

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 17:29 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected imminent

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
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.