Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Humber 990 expected Fisher 993 by midnight tonight. New low expected Lundy 987 by same time

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Wed 13 Nov 2019.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 13 Nov 2019 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 14 Nov 2019.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: North 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly, backing northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:34 (UTC) on Tue 12 Nov 2019

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough at first, becoming slight later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Northwest, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Thames

Wind: Northwest, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Dover

Wind: Northwest, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Wight

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Tue 12 Nov 2019

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4, backing west 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 13 Nov 2019

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 13 Nov 2019

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Tue 12 Nov 2019

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West, veering north or northwest later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high, occasionally very high later in west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Tue 12 Nov 2019

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: West, veering north or northwest later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high, occasionally very high later in west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 22:38 (UTC) on Tue 12 Nov 2019

Southerly gale force 8 expected later then veering westerly later

Wind: West 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 13 Nov 2019

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 22:38 (UTC) on Tue 12 Nov 2019

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:57 (UTC) on Tue 12 Nov 2019

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Northwest, veering north later, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in far southwest.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Wed 13 Nov 2019

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming north later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high in southwest.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

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.