Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Plymouth 1011 losing its identity by midnight tonight. New low expected Iceland 991 by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 18 Sep 2021.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 Sep 2021 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 Sep 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 18 Sep 2021

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 18 Sep 2021

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sat 18 Sep 2021

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in south and rough in north.
Weather: Occasional rain in northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers later in west.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Showers later in west.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers later in west.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 17 Sep 2021

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northwest backing southwest for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, veering southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
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.