Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low FitzRoy 992 expected Biscay 1001 by 1800 Friday. New low expected Malin 1009 by same time. High Greenland 1041 slow-moving, declining 1036 by that time

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Thu 30 Nov 2023.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 1 Dec 2023 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 2 Dec 2023.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable, becoming northwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate for a time in west, otherwise slight.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable, becoming northwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly 3 to 5, backing northerly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In east, easterly 3 to 5, backing northerly 2 to 4. In west, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, moderate becoming slight.
Weather: In east, fair. In west, wintry showers.
Visibility: In east, good. In west, good occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Portland

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Thu 30 Nov 2023

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state: Rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in northeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4.
Sea state: Rough occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery rain at first in far southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in far southeast.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:59 (UTC) on Thu 30 Nov 2023

Gale force 8 veering northerly imminent

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate except in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Thu 30 Nov 2023

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 then becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 then becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: North, becoming, cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good,.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Thu 30 Nov 2023

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6, decreasing 2 to 4. In northwest, northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: In southeast, rough becoming moderate. in northwest, rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good,. In northwest, good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:48 (UTC) on Thu 30 Nov 2023

Northeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

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.