Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low Tyne 978 losing its identity by 1800 Sunday. Low 400 miles west of Shannon 978 expected 50 miles west of Irish Sea 979 by same time

Issued at: 23:30 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 10 Dec 2023 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 11 Dec 2023.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6 in north, otherwise 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale force 8 now backed easterly

Wind: In north, easterly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later. In south, east or northeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: In north, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough. in south, moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: East or northeast 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale now ceased but easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southwesterly gale force 8 veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, increasing very rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Westerly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, increasing very rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, increasing very rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, increasing very rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8..
Sea state: Moderate or rough, increasing very rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale now ceased but westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Westerly gale force 8, backing southerly soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: South veering west or southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Westerly gale force 8, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Westerly storm force 10 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather: Rain, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: South 5 to 7, veering west or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at times.
Weather: Rain, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Westerly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind: West 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Easterly gale force 8, backing northeasterly imminent

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:47 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Easterly gale force 8, backing northeasterly imminent

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
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.