Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Sole 981 expected England 987 by midnight tonight. Atlantic low 966 moving rapidly east expected just west of FitzRoy 982 by same time. New low expected Forties 988 by that time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In northwest, northeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
In northwest, rough becoming very rough. in southeast, moderate or rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather
In northwest, rain. In southeast, squally showers.
Visibility
In northwest, good, occasionally poor. In southeast, good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
North or northeast 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming mainly very rough later.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
North or northeast 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming mainly very rough later.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in northwest.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in northwest.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later in north.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Thundery rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Forecast issued:

Wind
In southeast, westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. In northwest, westerly, becoming cyclonic mainly southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate or rough, occasionally slight in far southeast. in northwest, rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather
In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
In south, southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. In north, southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south.
Sea state
In south, rough or very rough, becoming high later in southwest. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather
In south, thundery rain. In north, thundery showers.
Visibility
In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 backing southwesterly imminent

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming northeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming northeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming northeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming northeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north and west.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
In northwest, northeasterly 6 to gale 8. In southeast, northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
In northwest, very rough or high. in southeast, rough or very rough.
Weather
In northwest, rain. In southeast, showers.
Visibility
In northwest, moderate or poor. In southeast, moderate or good.

Malin

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
In east, slight or moderate occasionally rough, but elsewhere rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
Northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
Northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased, but northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind
Northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally moderate in northwest and very rough at first in south.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally 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.