Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low 200 miles west of Fitzroy 985 slow-moving and filling 992 by midday tomorrow. High 200 miles north of Faeroes 1032 expected 100 miles northeast of Faeroes 1035 by same time. High Humber 1031 dissipating

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Fri 23 Apr 2021.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 23 Apr 2021 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 24 Apr 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in far west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in east. In southwest, variable mainly easterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: In northeast, moderate, occasionally slight in west. in southwest, slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: In northeast, showers. In southwest, fair.
Visibility: In northeast, good. In southwest, good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable mainly easterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Variable mainly easterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable mainly easterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable mainly easterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable, becoming northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers in far west.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 21:41 (UTC) on Thu 22 Apr 2021

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 22 Apr 2021

Wind: In southeast, variable 3 or 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time. In northwest, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In southeast, slight, becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. in northwest, moderate or rough, becoming very rough later, occasionally high later in northwest.
Weather: In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, thundery showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in east, otherwise rough, occasionally very rough at first in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: East 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers later in southwest.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in northeast.
Weather: Showers in south.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Rockall

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far south.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fog patches at first in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

Fair Isle

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 in far southwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, veering southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.