Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

Low south of Iceland 979 expected Southeast Iceland 986 by 1800 Friday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 18 Aug 2022.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Fri 19 Aug 2022 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sat 20 Aug 2022.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Aug 2022

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, veering southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Thu 18 Aug 2022

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, veering southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, veering southwesterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: South veering west or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: South veering west or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: West 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: West 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: West 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

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

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough. in north, moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, fair. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: West 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Lundy

Wind: West 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: West 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: West 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Westerly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Westerly or southwest becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers, thundry later.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Thu 18 Aug 2022

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Thu 18 Aug 2022

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate, 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.