Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Fair Isle 974 slow-moving, filling 985 by 0600 tomorrow. Low west of Shannon 991 losing its identity

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Thu 21 Sep 2023.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 21 Sep 2023 to 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 22 Sep 2023.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 veering west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7 veering west or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Southwest veering northwest, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest veering northwest, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest veering northwest, 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 21 Sep 2023

Gale now ceased but westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 20 Sep 2023

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:42 (UTC) on Wed 20 Sep 2023

Severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering westerly soon

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Thu 21 Sep 2023

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: West 3 or 4 veering northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: West 3 or 4 veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: West 3 or 4 veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 15:42 (UTC) on Wed 20 Sep 2023

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: North or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West 4 to 6 veering northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but slight or moderate in southeast, occasionally high in northwest.
Weather: Showers, turning squally.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:42 (UTC) on Wed 20 Sep 2023

Severe gale force 9 veering northerly soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming northwest later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Wed 20 Sep 2023

Severe gale force 9 backing northerly soon

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing northwest later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 21 Sep 2023

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in east.
Weather: Squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Wed 20 Sep 2023

Severe gale force 9 backing northerly soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming northwest later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:51 (UTC) on Thu 21 Sep 2023

Severe gale force 9 backing northerly imminent

Wind: Northerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later, becoming variable 4 or less in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate in west.
Weather: 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.