Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

New high expected Fastnet 1025 by midday Friday

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2020.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2020 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jan 2020.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2020

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth later in west.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: In north, northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6. In south, easterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: In north, slight or moderate. in south, slight or moderate.
Weather: In north, mainly fair. In south, rain.
Visibility: In north, moderate or good. In south, good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2020

Wind: Cyclonic 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southwest, smooth or slight in northeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southwest, smooth or slight in northeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming southwest 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in northwest.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Westerly, backing southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: Westerly, backing southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2020

Gale force 8 now veered westerly

Wind: In south, westerly, backing southwesterly, 4 to 6. In north, westerly 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast. in north, very rough or high, becoming very rough.
Weather: In south, rain. In north, rain or showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally moderate. In north, moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2020

Severe gale force 9 now veered westerly

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, backing southwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2020

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very rough, but moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:53 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2020

Severe gale force 9 now veered westerly

Wind: Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Mainly high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:49 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2020

Storm force 10 veering westerly and decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind: Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Mainly high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
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.