Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low 200 miles west of Rockall 999, expected Southeast Iceland 1000 by 0600 tomorrow.

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Fri 23 Aug 2019.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 23 Aug 2019 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 24 Aug 2019.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly backing southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

Cromarty

Wind: South 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain at first, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: South 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

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

Dogger

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

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming southeast 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate.

Dover

Wind: Variable, mainly east 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate.

Wight

Wind: Variable, mainly east 4 or less.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate.

Portland

Wind: Easterly, becoming cyclonic later 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly, becoming cyclonic later 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: East, becoming variable, then west later, 4 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 22 Aug 2019

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8 in far southeast, otherwise northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later near portugal.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in far southeast, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor near portugal.

FitzRoy

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle later in northwest.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor later.

Sole

Wind: Southeasterly veering southwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in west.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: Southeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: South veering southwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: South 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: South 5 to 7, veering west 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Thu 22 Aug 2019

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 6 to gale 8 , becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Malin

Wind: South 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 23 Aug 2019

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:43 (UTC) on Fri 23 Aug 2019

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough.
Weather: Rain.
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.