Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High Irish Sea 1040 expected belgium 1038 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Mon 17 Jan 2022.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 17 Jan 2022 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 18 Jan 2022.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: West 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: West 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: West 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather: Fog patches in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Fog patches in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.

Biscay

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Mon 17 Jan 2022

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Showers in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

Sole

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Showers in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

Lundy

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, veering southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 17 Jan 2022

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 17 Jan 2022

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 17 Jan 2022

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 17 Jan 2022

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering northwesterly later

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 17 Jan 2022

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 17 Jan 2022

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering northwesterly later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:44 (UTC) on Mon 17 Jan 2022

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering northwesterly later

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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.