Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Sole 994 expected eastern Europe 994 by midnight tonight. Low Faeroes 984 losing its identity

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 28 Feb 2020.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwest veering west 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 6 or 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South 4 or 5, veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South 4 or 5, veering northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:58 (UTC) on Wed 26 Feb 2020

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 26 Feb 2020

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent then decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwest later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent then decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwest later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020

Wind: North 5 or 6, becoming variable 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 26 Feb 2020

Gale now ceased, but westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4, then south or southwest later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 26 Feb 2020

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4, then south or southwest later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 26 Feb 2020

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4, then south or southwest later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest backing south later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest backing south 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good becoming moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 26 Feb 2020

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 26 Feb 2020

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 10:04 (UTC) on Wed 26 Feb 2020

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020

Northwesterly gale force 8 veering southeasterly later

Wind: In south, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwesterly 5 or 6. In north, northwest veering southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, rain or wintry showers. In north, rain or snow.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, moderate, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 26 Feb 2020

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Wed 26 Feb 2020

Northerly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 27 Feb 2020

Northerly severe gale force 9 veering easterly later

Wind: Northerly veering easterly, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Snow 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.