Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Fitzroy 1011 slow moving, filling 1012 by midnight tonight. High Cromarty 1020 expected Fair Isle with little change by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 15 Aug 2020.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 15 Aug 2020 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 16 Aug 2020.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4, veering north 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Mainly slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first, becoming mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Mainly slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first, becoming mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forth

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Mainly slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first, becoming mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Tyne

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Mainly slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first, becoming mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dogger

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times.
Sea state: Mainly slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first, becoming mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first, thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches, thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches, thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches, thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: West, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches until later, risk of thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: West, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fog patches until later, risk of thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 14 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, increasing 6 or 7 in south.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: East, becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

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

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers and drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: In southeast, northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northwest.

Bailey

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeasterly 4 or 5 later in far south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly, then becoming variable later, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.