Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low Southeast Iceland 995 slow moving expected 999 by midday tomorrow. High Wight 1023 expected German Bight 1017 by same time. New low expected Fair Isle 999 by that time. New low expected Biscay 1007 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sat 21 May 2022.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 21 May 2022 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 May 2022.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South or southwest 2 to 4, backing southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: West or southwest, backing south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth along coastlines, otherwise slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: West or southwest, backing south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth along coastlines, otherwise slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: West or southwest, backing south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth along coastlines, otherwise slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest, backing south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth along coastlines, otherwise slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest, backing south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth along coastlines, otherwise slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing south 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing south 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Southwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Southwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Southwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: Variable, becoming north or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Variable, becoming north or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable, becoming north or northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: North or northeast becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight along coasts.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 20 May 2022

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northwesterly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later. In north, variable 2 to 4 in east, otherwise southwesterly veering westerly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: In south, moderate occasionally rough at first. in north, moderate.
Weather: In south, thundery showers . In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good.

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in east, otherwise southwesterly veering westerly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches, then thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches, then thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches, then thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest veering northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

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.