Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low north Biscay 1006 expected north France 1010 by midday tomorrow. Low South Utsire 1004 dissipating. New high expected Fair Isle 1019 by same time

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Tue 16 Aug 2022.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 16 Aug 2022 to 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 17 Aug 2022.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 16 Aug 2022

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 16 Aug 2022

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 3 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough, then becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: North 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: North 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: North 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: North 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: West veering north or northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough for a time in north.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: West veering north or northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 15 Aug 2022

Wind: North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Tue 16 Aug 2022

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Tue 16 Aug 2022

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly, backing southwesterly later in west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4, then south or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4, then south or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: North 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4, then south or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:55 (UTC) on Tue 16 Aug 2022

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Variable 3 or 4, becoming south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough at first in far east, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:38 (UTC) on Tue 16 Aug 2022

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:38 (UTC) on Tue 16 Aug 2022

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

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.