Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low north Biscay 1009 expected France 1011 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Wed 4 Aug 2021.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 4 Aug 2021 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Aug 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 becoming southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly backing southerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Showers, becoming thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Showers, becoming thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, becoming thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Variable, becoming southeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable, becoming southeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 1 to 3 becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming south or southwest 2 to 4 later, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Biscay

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 3 Aug 2021

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle at times in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in north.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northwesterly backing southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. In north, northwesterly 3 to 5 backing southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: In south, moderate. in north, moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: In south, rain or drizzle, fog patches in southeast. In north, showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in far southeast.

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5 backing southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 becoming southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 becoming southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 becoming southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 2 to 4 backing southeast 4 to 6, veering west later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West 2 to 4 backing east or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Southwesterly backing southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: South 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in south.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, 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.