Shipping forecast
The shipping forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, on Saturday 04 February 2012 at 0505 UTC
There are warnings of gales in Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, Forties, Cromarty, Forth, Tyne, Dogger, Biscay, Trafalgar, Shannon, Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes, South-east Iceland.
The General synopsis at midnight
Low 200 miles southwest of Iceland 983 expected just north of Iceland 991 by midnight tonight. High Fitzroy 1042 slow moving with little change by same time. New low expected Portland 1021 by that time
The area forecasts for the next 24 hours
Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire, East Forties
Southerly 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough, occasionally high in Viking. Occasional snow. Moderate, occasionally very poor
West Forties, Cromarty
Southerly 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in Cromarty. Rain and snow, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor
Forth, Tyne, West Dogger
South 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally very rough. Rain and snow, fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor
East Dogger, Fisher, German Bight
Easterly 4 or 5, veering southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east Dogger. Slight, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east Dogger. Occasional snow. Moderate, occasionally very poor
Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight
East 4 or 5, veering south 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in Humber. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Snow showers, sleet and snow later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later
Portland, Plymouth, North Biscay
Variable, becoming southwesterly, 4, increasing 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic then northerly later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor
South Biscay
Northerly, backing northwesterly, 5, increasing 6 to gale 8. Moderate, becoming rough, occasionally very rough later. Wintry showers then rain. Good, becoming poor
Trafalgar (Issued 0015 UTC Sat 04 Feb)
Northeasterly 5 or 6, becoming variable 4. Moderate or rough. Fair. Good
FitzRoy, Sole
Southwesterly, veering northwesterly, 5 to 7, but variable 4 in south Fitzroy. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor
Lundy, Fastnet, Irish Sea
South 5 to 7, veering northwest 5 or 6. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Irish Sea. Occasional rain then fair. Good, occasionally poor
Shannon, Rockall, Malin
South or southwest, veering west for a time, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later in Malin. Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north Rockall. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor
Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle, Faeroes, South-east Iceland
Southerly, veering westerly, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times. Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in Fair Isle. Rain then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor
