Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Shannon 972 expected Rockall 981 by 0600 Monday

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Sun 9 May 2021.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 9 May 2021 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 10 May 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: South backing southeast, then becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly moderate.
Weather: Fog patches, occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South or southeast, becoming cyclonic at times, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: South or southeast, becoming cyclonic at times, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: South or southeast, veering south or southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally variable 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: South or southeast, veering south or southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally variable 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southeast, veering south or southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally variable 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: South or southeast, veering south or southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally variable 3.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally variable 4 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Mainly good.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate at first in southeast, otherwise rough, becoming very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: West or southwest, veering west or northwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:40 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind: West or southwest, veering west or northwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in wes.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sun 9 May 2021

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:40 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly later

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:43 (UTC) on Sun 9 May 2021

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: In northwest, northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9. In southeast, cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: In northwest, very rough or high. in southeast, rough or very rough.
Weather: In northwest, rain. In southeast, thundery showers.
Visibility: In northwest, poor. In southeast, good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southeasterly, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:43 (UTC) on Sun 9 May 2021

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 in southeast, otherwise northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sun 9 May 2021

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:43 (UTC) on Sun 9 May 2021

Gale now ceased, but northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 in southeast, otherwise northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sun 9 May 2021

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sun 9 May 2021

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: 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.