Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low 400 miles west of Fitzroy 1009 expected southwest Rockall 1011 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Sun 18 Apr 2021.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 18 Apr 2021 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Apr 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

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

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fisher

Wind: Northeast veering east 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: In north, variable 2 to 4. In south, easterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 17 Apr 2021

Wind: North or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate throughout in west.
Weather: Showers later in west.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, southerly backing southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain in northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

Sole

Wind: Southerly backing southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, becoming variable 4, then northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fair Isle

Wind: South 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7 at first in far east, otherwise westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:58 (UTC) on Sun 18 Apr 2021

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Wintry 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.