Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

New low expected Denmark 1022 by midday tomorrow. New high expected Ireland 1039 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly veering northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

North Utsire

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly veering northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly veering northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Forties

Wind
Southwest veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind
Southwest veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Forth

Wind
Southwest veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Tyne

Wind
Southwest veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

Wind
Southwest veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Wind
Variable 3 or 4, becoming northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

German Bight

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 2 to 4, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5 veering north or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Drizzle then rain, then showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5 veering north or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Drizzle then rain, then showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5 veering northeast later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5 veering northeast later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5 veering northeast later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5 veering northeast later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, fog patches at first, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 or 3, becoming northeasterly 2 to 4.
Sea state
.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Variable 2 at first in northwest, otherwise northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
Variable 2 or 3, becoming northeasterly 2 to 4 increasing 5 or 6 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Sole

Wind
Cyclonic 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain and fog patches at first, otherwise fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor at first.

Lundy

Wind
Cyclonic 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain and fog patches at first, otherwise fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind
Cyclonic 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain and fog patches at first, otherwise fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind
Cyclonic 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, but occasionally smooth.
Weather
Occasional rain and fog patches at first, otherwise fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor at first.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain af first, otherwise fair.
Visibility
Good.

Rockall

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent

Wind
West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers, fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
West or southwest, northwest for a time, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Squally showers, fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 veering westerly and decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind
West or southwest, northwest for a time, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Squally showers, fair later.
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.