Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low just west of FitzRoy 1006 expected Sole 1007 by midnight tonight. Low belgium 1014 expected Thames 1017 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly mainly 3 to 5, but 6 at first in south and becoming variable 2 to 4 in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in southwest, slight or moderate in northeast.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

North Utsire

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In north, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4. In south, easterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers in south.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In east, easterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. In west, easterly 5 or 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in south.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
In east, good. In west, good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
Easterly 5 or 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
Easterly 5 or 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Easterly 5 or 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
East 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
East 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
East 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers, perhaps wintry, and also snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northeast, decreasing 4 at times elsewhere.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time at first in far northeast.
Weather
Rain or showers, and also sleet in east.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Rain or showers, and also sleet in east.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate at first in northeast, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming east 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind
East veering southeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, mainly later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Biscay

Wind
East veering southeast 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, mainly later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor until later.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 veering southeasterly imminent

Wind
Cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far north.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
East 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Malin

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Hebrides

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Bailey

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fair Isle

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Faeroes

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southerly 3 to 5 backing easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
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.