Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Atlantic low 967 expected Rockall 976 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 9 May 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6 backing easterly 6 to gale 8, veering southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6 backing easterly 6 to gale 8, veering southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6 backing easterly 6 to gale 8, veering southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain, then fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6 backing southeasterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: In west, southerly 4 to 6 backing southeasterly 4 or 5. In east, southeasterly 5 to 7 veering southerly 3 or 4.
Sea state: In west, moderate becoming slight or moderate. in east, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: In west, rain. In east, rain then showers.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7 veering southerly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7 veering southerly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5, becoming variable 4 or less later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: In northwest, southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In southeast, variable 4 or less, becoming westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In northwest, rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east. in southeast, moderate becoming rough.
Weather: In northwest, rain. In southeast, fog patches then thundery rain.
Visibility: In northwest, good, occasionally poor. In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 7 May 2021

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:45 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough becoming very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery at first in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:45 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough except in east.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 15:42 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Gale force 8 now veered southwesterly

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:45 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Severe gale force 9 backing northeasterly soon

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:45 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Gale now ceased, but northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Easterly gale force 8 backing northeasterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, becoming cyclonic.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:51 (UTC) on Sat 8 May 2021

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
Weather: Rain or wintry 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.