Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Bailey 993 losing its identity near northwest Scotland by midnight tonight. New low expected Trafalgar 1006 by same time

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Wed 25 Nov 2020.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 25 Nov 2020 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 26 Nov 2020.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: West 4 to 6, veering north 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, veering northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 25 Nov 2020

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: North or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in south.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in south.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing west 3 to 5, then southwest later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Nov 2020

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Nov 2020

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 3 to 5, then southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southwest.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic becoming north, backing southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, backing westerly 3 to 5, then southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Wed 25 Nov 2020

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, backing westerly 3 to 5, then southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
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.