Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Low 250 miles west of Bailey 986 expected 50 miles south of Iceland 993 by 0600 tomorrow. New low expected Trafalgar 1012 by same time. High FitzRoy 1022 expected France 1025 by that time

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Fri 20 May 2022.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 20 May 2022 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 21 May 2022.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South, veering southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Fair then showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: South, veering west or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind: South, veering west or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind: South, veering west or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind: South, veering west or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind: South, veering west or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers then fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 to 6.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers then fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or poor becoming good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or poor becoming good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery rain or showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or poor becoming good.

Portland

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 10:09 (UTC) on Fri 20 May 2022

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Thu 19 May 2022

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8 in far southeast, otherwise northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, northeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, good occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: South or southwest, veering west for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Malin

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Hebrides

Wind: South, veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: South, veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: South, veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: South, veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.