Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

New low expected 400 miles southwest of Iceland 984 by 0600 tomorrow. High south Norway 1033 slow-moving, dissipating

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Fri 27 Jan 2023.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Jan 2023 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Jan 2023.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southwesterly, veering northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Southwesterly, veering northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

German Bight

Wind: Northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Humber

Wind: Northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 27 Jan 2023

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 4 at times in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Mainly good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable, becoming west, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Occasional drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest, veering west, 5 to 7, then backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far north.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 21:47 (UTC) on Thu 26 Jan 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: Westerly, backing southwesterly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Fri 27 Jan 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: Southwesterly, veering westerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 03:53 (UTC) on Fri 27 Jan 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but high for a time in west.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:48 (UTC) on Fri 27 Jan 2023

Westerly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: High becoming very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Snow showers, occasional rain or sleet later.
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.