Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

High Humber 1029 slow-moving, intensifying 1031 by midday tomorrow. Low 500 miles west of Fitzroy 983 expected 300 miles west of Fitzroy 986 by same time

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Thu 22 Apr 2021.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 22 Apr 2021 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 23 Apr 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east.
Sea state: Rough at first in east, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In east, northwesterly 3 to 5. In west, variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: In east, moderate. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather: In east, showers. In west, fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east.
Sea state: Rough at first in east, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5 at first in south, otherwise variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally variable 3 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 21 Apr 2021

Wind: Westerly backing southerly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later in west, perhaps gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather: Thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 15:53 (UTC) on Thu 22 Apr 2021

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in west.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough except in east.
Weather: Fair in northeast, otherwise rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west and south.

Sole

Wind: East or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Wind: East or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east and north, rough in south and west.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: East or northeast 2 to 4 veering east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in northeast.
Sea state: Mainly rough, but slight or moderate in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in southwest, decreasing 3 at times in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: South or southeast, backing east later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in east, but slight becoming moderate in west.
Weather: Fog patches for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.

Bailey

Wind: South or southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Fog patches for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: In east, variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. In west, variable mainly easterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: 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.