Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

New high expected southwest Rockall 1019 by 1800 Monday. New low expected just south of Iceland 1012 by same time. Low northern Scotland 1010, losing its identity

Issued at: 00:15 (UTC+1) on Mon 20 May 2019.

For the period 01:00 (UTC+1) on Mon 20 May 2019 to 01:00 (UTC+1) on Tue 21 May 2019.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable becoming north 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Mainly good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Forties

Wind: Variable, becoming north, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable, mainly southeast at first, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable, mainly southeast at first, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind: Variable, mainly southeast at first, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind: North 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northeast backing north 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: North 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: North, backing northwest, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: North, backing northwest, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable, mainly west or northwest, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable, mainly west or northwest, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southwest, cyclonic 5 or 6. In northeast, variable 3 or 4, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate, occasionally rough. in northeast, moderate becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: In southwest, occasional rain. In northeast, showers.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally moderate. In northeast, good.

Sole

Wind: In west, southeasterly 5 or 6. In east, variable, mainly northerly or northwesterly, 3 or 4.
Sea state: In west, moderate. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable, mainly northerly or northwesterly, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable, mainly northerly or northwesterly, 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in north, becoming variable 3 or less in south.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 in southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: West or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: West or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: In southeast, variable 3 or 4. In northwest, northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches. In northwest, rain, fog patches.
Visibility: In southeast, moderate, occasionally very poor. In northwest, 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.

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