Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low FitzRoy 1010 losing its identity

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 May 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5 at first, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: East or northeast backing north or northwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Fisher

Wind: East or northeast backing north or northwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Shower.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast backing north or northwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Shower.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Variable, mainly north or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches and showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable, mainly north or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches and showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches and showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches and showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches and showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate until later, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches and showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 17 May 2024

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough at first in west, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate for a time.
Weather: Fog patches, showers for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: North 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5 at first in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later except in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, veering easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
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.