Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low 550 miles west of Fitzroy 1009 expected 100 miles west of Shannon 1011 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Sun 18 Apr 2021.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 18 Apr 2021 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Apr 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: In west, southerly 4 to 6. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In west, moderate. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in north, easterly 4 or 5 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4. In west, southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate. in west, slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Easterly 5 at first in north, otherwise variable mainly northeasterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable mainly northeasterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable mainly northeasterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Variable mainly northeasterly 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: In north, variable 2 to 4. In south, easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later in south.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 17 Apr 2021

Wind: North or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate throughout in west.
Weather: Showers later in west.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. In northwest, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain in far northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in far northwest.

Sole

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5 in west, variable 2 to 4 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind: South 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 17 Apr 2021

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Fair Isle

Wind: South 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Sat 17 Apr 2021

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: South 6 to gale 8 veering west 3 to 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west, then becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Sat 17 Apr 2021

Gale force 8 veering southwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
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.