Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low Dogger 998 expected German Bight 1002 by midday Friday. New low expected Sole 999 by same time and new low 1008 expected FitzRoy 999 by that time.

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 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 easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight to moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight to moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight to moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, but southeasterly 3 or 5 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: West or northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in southwest.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming mainly moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, becoming mainly moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 24 Apr 2024

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

FitzRoy

Wind: Northwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, but occasionally variable 3 or less later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Showers or occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Showers or occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming mainly east or northeast later.
Sea state: Slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers or occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7, becoming mainly east or northeast later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east.
Weather: Showers or occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northeast, 2 to 4, increasing 5 later in south.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest, becoming cyclonic, then northeast later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Mainly rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: North or northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: East or northeast, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, increasing rough in far northwest later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: 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.