Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Fair Isle 1011 losing its identity by midnight tonight. High France 1029 dissipating.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Viking

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable, then easterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable, then easterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable, then easterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
South or southwest becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
South or southwest becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Wight

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Portland

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Plymouth

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Biscay

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain in north.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in north.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, but easterly 5 to 7 in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Fastnet

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast veering south or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
East or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Cyclonic becoming east 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic becoming east 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very 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.