Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Forties 977 losing its identity by midday tomorrow, new low expected Forties 950 by same time

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 21 Jan 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Southerly gale force 8 veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10 later in south, perhaps violent storm 11 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate at first in west, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Westerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming west 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Southerly gale force 8 veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest gale 8 to storm 10 later, perhaps violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Southerly gale force 8 veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest gale 8 to storm 10 later, perhaps violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Southerly gale force 8 veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering southwest gale 8 to storm 10 later, perhaps violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Southerly gale force 8 veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: South veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Southerly gale force 8 veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: South veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Southerly gale force 8 veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind: South veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Southerly gale force 8 veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Southerly gale force 8 veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent, then increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Westerly, becoming cyclonic later in north, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Wind: South veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, then veering west 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon, then increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Westerly, becoming cyclonic later in north, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: West or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Tue 19 Jan 2021

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough.
Weather: Thundery wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough.
Weather: Thundery wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Northeasterly gale force 8, backing northerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 16:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Northeasterly gale force 8, backing northerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Northeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 20 Jan 2021

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
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.