Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

New high expected southeast Malin 1039 by midnight tonight. Low just southwest of Iceland 990 expected north Iceland 997 by same time. High Fastnet 1037 dissipating.

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Tue 26 May 2020.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 26 May 2020 to 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 27 May 2020.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly veering northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming west 5 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable becoming north or northwest, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable becoming north or northwest, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in northeast.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable becoming north or northwest, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable becoming north or northwest, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate in south, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 or 4 later. In west, northeasterly 3 or 4.
Sea state: In east, moderate. in west, moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: In east, fair. In west, fog patches for a time later.
Visibility: In east, moderate or good. In west, moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time later.

Biscay

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Mon 25 May 2020

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 25 May 2020

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8 in far southeast, otherwise northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Mon 25 May 2020

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In southeast, northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southeast. In northwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate becoming rough, occasionally very rough. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, occasional drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first, fog patches until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first, fog patches until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first, fog patches until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Malin

Wind: Southwesterly 4 or 5, decreasing 3 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Hebrides

Wind: In south, southwesterly 4 or 5, decreasing 3 later. In north, southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: In south, rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, mainly fair. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor at first. In north, good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Tue 26 May 2020

Gale force 8 now veered southwesterly

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: High at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate east of northern isles.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:44 (UTC) on Tue 26 May 2020

Gale force 8 now veered southwesterly

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Mon 25 May 2020

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers until later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

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).

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.