Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low northwest Fitzroy 1014 slow moving, deepening 1012 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Fri 14 Aug 2020.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 14 Aug 2020 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 15 Aug 2020.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: West or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

German Bight

Wind: In north, variable 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5. In south, northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Fog patches at first, thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth becoming slight.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

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

Biscay

Wind: Variable 4 , becoming northeasterly 4 or 5 later in east.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 13 Aug 2020

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: In southeast, northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: In southeast, showers. In northwest, drizzle, fog patches later in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: In south, southwesterly 3 to 5. In north, southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: In south, slight or moderate. in north, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: West 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate in north and west.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain.
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.