Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Atlantic high 1028 expected Forth 1032 by 1800 tomorrow. New low expected German Bight 1018 by same time.

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 21 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 veering northerly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first, otherwise northerly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Gale force 8 veering northerly later

Wind: North 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 at times, occasionally 3 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough until later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, but 5 to 7 near strait of gibraltar until later, becoming mainly north 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near strait of gibraltar.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but occasionally 6 or 7, perhaps increasing gale 8 later near northwest spain.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in central areas.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly southeast later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair, but rain in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderat.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: North 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate.
Weather: Fair, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, but rough at first in southeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, but occasionally very poor later.

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.