Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

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

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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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.