Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

High Southwest approaches 1024 expected Germany 1033 by midnight tonight. New low expected mid Atlantic 974 by same time

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2020.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers, sleet later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers, sleet later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers, sleet later.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, backing south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind: South or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: South or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Southwest, backing south or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Southwest, backing south or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: South or southeast 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: South or southeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2020

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in east at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2020

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southeast, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain in west later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2020

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South or southeast, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain in west later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lundy

Wind: South or southeast, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southeast, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southeast, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2020

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Fri 3 Apr 2020

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020

Easterly severe gale force 9, veering southerly gale force 8 later

Wind: In south, southerly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. In north, easterly or northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9, veering southerly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather: In south, rain or showers. In north, rain or showers.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor. In north, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, veering south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020

Easterly gale force 8, veering southerly later

Wind: East, veering south later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:50 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020

Easterly severe gale force 9, backing northeasterly violent storm force 11 later

Wind: East or northeast, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

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.