Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

new low expected Dogger 1001 by 0600 tomorrow. Low German Bight 1003 loosing its identity. High Southeast Iceland 1025 expected to dissipate.

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight later in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly later, 3 to 5, but cyclonic 2 or 3 for a time in east.
Sea state: Moderate, but rough at first in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight in moray firth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, but occasionally northwest 5 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fisher

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 or 3 in far east, otherwise northerly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 3 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but occasionally rough at first in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Humber

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Thames

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Dover

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Biscay

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

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 23 Apr 2024

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, but northeast 6 at first in southeast and occasionally 6 later in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far southeast at first and in northwest later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally in west later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 5 to 7 later, except in northeast, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Malin

Wind: Variable becoming northeasterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable becoming northeasterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Variable becoming northeasterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in far west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Sight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Sight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 or 3 at first in west, otherwise northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Sight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches in far northeast at first, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Poor to very poor in northeast at first, otherwise 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.