Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Faeroes 995 moving away northward. New low expected just west of Rockall 997 by 0600 tomorrow.

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Mon 22 Jul 2019.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 22 Jul 2019 to 12:00 (UTC) on Tue 23 Jul 2019.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southerly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southerly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Cyclonic 2 at first in north, otherwise southwesterly 5 to 7, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, but rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in north.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic 2 at first in north, otherwise southwesterly 5 to 7, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in north.

Forth

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate becoming good.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate becoming good.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first, and occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first, and occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first, and occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Wight

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

Portland

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

Plymouth

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

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 21 Jul 2019

Wind: Northerly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fog patches near iberian coast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor near iberian coast.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, fog patches. In northwest, rain later.
Visibility: In southeast, good, occasionally very poor. In northwest, good, becoming moderate or poor.

Sole

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in west.

Lundy

Wind: South backing southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: South backing southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: South 5 to 7, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 2 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 2 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 2 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming cyclonic, mainly south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in south.
Weather: Rain and fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate to very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming cyclonic, mainly south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in south.
Weather: Rain and fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate to very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming easterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally 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.