Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

High Baltic 1032 slow-moving, declining 1031 by 1800 Friday. Low Trafalgar 1009 loses its identity.

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 19 Sep 2024.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 20 Sep 2024 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 21 Sep 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable becoming mainly easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable becoming mainly easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable becoming mainly easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: East or southeast 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth until later.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: East or southeast 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth until later.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in far north, becoming variable 2 to 4 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Trafalgar

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

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, variable mainly easterly, 2 to 4, occasionally northeasterly 5 later in north. In north, easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: In south, showers, fog patches in southeast. In north, fair.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally very poor in southeast. In north, good.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 or 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight except in north.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Variable becoming east or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.