
The general synopsis at midday
High Scotland 1032 expected Forth 1036 by midday tomorrow. High Dover 1034 dissipating
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forth
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Tyne
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dogger
- Wind
- Northwest veering north, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fisher
- Wind
- Northwest veering north, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming slight at times later in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
German Bight
- Wind
- Northwesterly veering northerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Humber
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Thames
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, occasionally southwest 5 at first, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dover
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, occasionally southwest 5 at first, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Wight
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, occasionally southwest 5 at first, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Portland
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly backing northeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times in northeast.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly backing northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times in northeast.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Biscay
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in northeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Trafalgar
Forecast issued:
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 to 7 in southeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 4 or less.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Thundery showers then rain and fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south.
- Weather
- Thundery showers, fog patches in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in southwest.
Sole
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers in west.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lundy
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5 in southwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate in southwest, otherwise smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west. In northeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In southwest, moderate or rough. in northeast, moderate.
- Weather
- In southwest, fair. In northeast, showers.
- Visibility
- In southwest, good. In northeast, good.
Malin
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. In north, southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In south, moderate. in north, moderate.
- Weather
- In south, showers. In north, showers.
- Visibility
- In south, good. In north, good.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
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.