Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

High north Shannon 1042 expected northwest Plymouth 1041 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Thu 20 Jan 2022.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 21 Jan 2022 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 22 Jan 2022.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Thu 20 Jan 2022

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Thu 20 Jan 2022

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:47 (UTC) on Thu 20 Jan 2022

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: North, backing west or northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: North, backing west or northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

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

Wight

Wind: Northeast, becoming variable, mainly north, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northeast, becoming variable, mainly north, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeast, becoming variable, mainly north, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Thu 20 Jan 2022

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in north and gale 8 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: East, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, elsewhere moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwest at first, otherwise west or southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:51 (UTC) on Thu 20 Jan 2022

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.