Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low Norwegian Sea 968 expected finland 970 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Jan 2023.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sun 29 Jan 2023

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Jan 2023

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Jan 2023

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sun 29 Jan 2023

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

Wind: West veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sun 29 Jan 2023

Westerly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Sun 29 Jan 2023

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

Wind: West veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:45 (UTC) on Sun 29 Jan 2023

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time at first in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Wight

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Drizzle then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Portland

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 in southeast, perhaps gale 8 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northeasterly 3 to 5. In north, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In south, moderate. in north, moderate becoming rough.
Weather: In south, fair. In north, drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in north.

Sole

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate at first in east and south, otherwise rough.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time, then occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time, then occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, rough in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time, then occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest for a time, 3 or 4 increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 04:57 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Gale now ceased but westerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 04:57 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Gale now ceased but westerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northwest 4 to 6 backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:55 (UTC) on Sun 29 Jan 2023

Severe gale force 9 veering northwesterly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Mon 30 Jan 2023

Gale now ceased but easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming easterly 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough for a time in north.
Weather: Rain, snow or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally 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.