Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low FitzRoy 992 expected Biscay 1001 by 1800 Friday. New low expected Malin 1009 by same time. High Greenland 1041 slow-moving, declining 1036 by that time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
Variable, becoming northwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate for a time in west, otherwise slight.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable, becoming northwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind
Easterly 3 to 5, backing northerly 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Wind
In east, easterly 3 to 5, backing northerly 2 to 4. In west, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In east, slight or moderate. in west, moderate becoming slight.
Weather
In east, fair. In west, wintry showers.
Visibility
In east, good. In west, good occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Portland

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Plymouth

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northeast 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state
Rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in northeast.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4.
Sea state
Rough occasionally moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery rain at first in far southeast.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first in far southeast.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 veering northerly imminent

Wind
Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state
Rough occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate except in south.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state
Rough occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Lundy

Wind
Northeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 then becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Wind
Northeast 5 to 7, decreasing 4 then becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight, occasionally smooth later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Irish Sea

Wind
Northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in south.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Rockall

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Malin

Wind
North, becoming, cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Hebrides

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state
Rough becoming moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good,.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6, decreasing 2 to 4. In northwest, northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time.
Sea state
In southeast, rough becoming moderate. in northwest, rough occasionally very rough.
Weather
In southeast, showers. In northwest, showers.
Visibility
In southeast, good,. In northwest, good.

Fair Isle

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

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.