Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Germany 995 and Sole 1014 losing their identities by 0600 Sunday. New low expected belgium 993 by same time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 27 Sep 2020.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: In northwest, northerly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4 or less. In southeast, northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state: In northwest, rough or very rough, becoming moderate later. in southeast, moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: In northwest, fair. In southeast, fair.
Visibility: In northwest, good. In southeast, good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less, except southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate except in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:58 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2020

Northerly severe gale force 9 continuing, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough, then moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Gale warning: Issued: 21:39 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2020

Gale now ceased but northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough, then moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:39 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2020

Gale now ceased but northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough, then moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 21:39 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2020

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 21:39 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2020

Northerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: North 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Gale now ceased but northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North or northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Gale force 8 now veered northerly, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 veering and decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, some thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Gale now ceased, but northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: North or northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Westerly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south.
Weather: Thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 25 Sep 2020

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

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: In south, northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast, veering northerly 3 to 5. In north, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: In south, rough, occasionally very rough at first in northeast, becoming moderate later. in north, moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, rain . In north, rain.
Visibility: In south, mainly good. In north, mainly good.

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Lundy

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, veering south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Rockall

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, veering south 4 to 6, occasionally 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Mainly rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Malin

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, veering south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, veering south 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South 4 to 6, backing southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:49 (UTC) on Sat 26 Sep 2020

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 4 or less, becoming south 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.