Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Bailey 998 expected Faeroes 992 by midnight tonight. Low Forties 1000 losing its identity by same time. New low expected Malin 995 by that time.

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

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

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northeasterly, veering southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Northeasterly, veering southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Northeasterly, veering southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: West or southwest, 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: West or southwest, 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: Southwest, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 08:27 (UTC) on Fri 3 Jul 2020

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 08:27 (UTC) on Fri 3 Jul 2020

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: In north, southwesterly 5 to 7. In south, variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: In north, moderate or rough. in south, slight or moderate.
Weather: In north, rain, fog patches. In south, mainly fair.
Visibility: In north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In south, good.

Trafalgar

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

Wind: North or northeast. 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6. In north, southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough. in north, moderate or rough.
Weather: In south, rain later . In north, rain, fog patches.
Visibility: In south, good, occasional moderate later. In north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 3 Jul 2020

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 3 Jul 2020

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 3 Jul 2020

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:55 (UTC) on Fri 3 Jul 2020

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sat 4 Jul 2020

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest, 3 or 4, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sat 4 Jul 2020

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: West or southwest, 3 or 4, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Cyclonic, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly 3 to 5, backing northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

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.