Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 1800

High just west of Rockall 1032 builds slowly east expected Rockall 1034 by 1800 Monday

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 28 May 2023.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 29 May 2023 to 00:00 (UTC) on Tue 30 May 2023.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers later.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

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

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Northeast becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in north, then occasionally 7 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in north, then occasionally 7 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: In north, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In south, cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: In north, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. in south, slight or moderate.
Weather: In north, mainly fair. In south, thundery showers.
Visibility: In north, good. In south, good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind: Variable, mainly west, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in north.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, cyclonic 3 to 5. In north, northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, slight or moderate. in north, moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: In south, thundery showers. In north, fair.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally moderate. In north, good.

Sole

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable, mainly northeasterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Variable, mainly northeasterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: West 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: West 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Faeroes

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Sun 28 May 2023

Westerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers then occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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.