Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

High Scotland 1032 expected Forth 1036 by midday tomorrow. High Dover 1034 dissipating

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Tue 13 Apr 2021.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Apr 2021 to 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 14 Apr 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northwest veering north, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest veering north, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming slight at times later in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwesterly veering northerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, occasionally southwest 5 at first, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, occasionally southwest 5 at first, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, occasionally southwest 5 at first, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly backing northeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times in northeast.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly backing northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times in northeast.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 12 Apr 2021

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7 in southeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Thundery showers then rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in southwest.

Sole

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers in west.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5 in southwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Mainly moderate in southwest, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west. In northeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate or rough. in northeast, moderate.
Weather: In southwest, fair. In northeast, showers.
Visibility: In southwest, good. In northeast, good.

Malin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. In north, southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In south, moderate. in north, moderate.
Weather: In south, showers. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good. In north, good.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: 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.