Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low South Utsire 1004 expected Humber 998 by midnight tonight. Atlantic low 1006 expected 150 miles west of Sole 1002 by same time.

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly 4 or 5 later in southeast.
Sea state: Slight to moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight to moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly 2 to 4, veering southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight to moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, but cyclonic 2 or 3 at first in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Mainly moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 3 or 4 later but northeasterly 3 or 4 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024

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

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time in west, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time in west, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwesterly, veering northeasterly later, 2 to 4.
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: Northwesterly 2 to 4, but 6 to gale 8 at first in west, veering northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight at first in east.
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: In southwest, northwesterly 2 to 4, but 6 to gale 8 at first in west, veering northeast 4 to 6 later . In northeast, northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate or rough. in northeast, slight or moderate, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: In southwest, occasional rain. In northeast, occasional rain.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally moderate. In northeast, good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Sight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Sight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Sight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.