Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High southern Norway 1039 slow-moving with little change. High northern England 1036 dissipating

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Thu 15 Apr 2021.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 15 Apr 2021 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 16 Apr 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

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

Forties

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly 3 to 5 later in west.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable mainly southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in northeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Variable mainly southeast 3 or 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: North becoming variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, becoming variable 3 at times in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, becoming variable 3 at times in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, becoming variable 3 at times in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough at first in far southwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 14 Apr 2021

Wind: Cyclonic in south, otherwise northerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:42 (UTC) on Thu 15 Apr 2021

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In south, variable 3 or 4 at first in far south, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east. In north, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north. in north, moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Moderate in west, but elsewhere smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 14 Apr 2021

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in northwest.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor except in southeast.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 15 Apr 2021

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in north.
Sea state: Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming high for a time in north.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Malin

Wind: Southerly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough in west.
Weather: Rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in west.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 14 Apr 2021

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 in west, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough in west, occasionally high in northwest.
Weather: Rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in west.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:54 (UTC) on Thu 15 Apr 2021

Southerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: South 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:51 (UTC) on Wed 14 Apr 2021

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming high in west.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Wed 14 Apr 2021

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.