Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low Forth 987 expected Humber 989 by 1800 Tuesday. Atlantic low expected Fitzroy 1006 by same time

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 12 Nov 2019 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 13 Nov 2019.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:59 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:59 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 09:59 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 09:59 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: West becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:59 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Gale force 8 backing southeasterly later

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Westerly gale force 8 continuing, backing southwesterly imminent

Wind: Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:59 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Gale force 8 now veered northwesterly

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:59 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Gale force 8 now veered northwesterly

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in south, moderate or rough in north.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 09:59 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Gale force 8 now veered northwesterly

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Biscay

Wind: Northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later in south, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, rain in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in south.

Trafalgar

Wind: North backing northwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeast becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In west, northwesterly 5 or 6, veering northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5. In east, northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: In west, high becoming very rough. in east, high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In west, fair. In east, squally showers.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, moderate or good.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: High at first in southwest, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in northeast.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 03:41 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:59 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: High, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: High, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northwesterly storm force 10 decreasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 6 later.
Sea state: High, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 16:00 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: High, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:46 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: High, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:59 (UTC) on Mon 11 Nov 2019

Easterly gale force 8 backing northeasterly soon

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8, backing north 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
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.