Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Atlantic low 988 expected just west of Shannon by midday Saturday.

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Fri 14 May 2021.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 14 May 2021 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 15 May 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: North 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

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

Forties

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

Cromarty

Wind: West or northwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: West or northwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: West or northwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: West or northwest, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 13 May 2021

Wind: Northwesterly, backing southwesterly in north, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time in south.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: East or southeast, backing northeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Fri 14 May 2021

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

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.