Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low Faeroes 1004 expected Humber 1011 by 1800 Wednesday. New low expected Southeast Iceland 1009 by same time

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 17 Apr 2024 to 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 18 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In east, cyclonic becoming northerly, 3 to 5. In west, cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, then becoming northerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In east, moderate. in west, moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, showers. In west, squally showers.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: In west, northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, then northerly 3 or 4 later. In east, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: In west, moderate, becoming rough for a time. in east, moderate in east.
Weather: In west, squally showers. In east, showers.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time in northwest.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Gale force 8 veering northeasterly imminent

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then west later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Tue 16 Apr 2024

Severe gale force 9 now veered northerly and decreased gale force 8

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming north or northeast 2 to 4, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southeast.
Weather: Showers then occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally 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.