Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Low Rockall 980 expected German Bight 989 by 0600 tomorrow, new lows expected Bailey 989 and 120 miles west of Shannon 966 by same time

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 10 Dec 2023.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first and later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023

Gale now ceased, but southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreased gale force 8

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7,becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale now ceased but easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: East or southeast, becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southeasterly gale force 8, veering southwesterly soon

Wind: Southeast veering west, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: Southeast veering west, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Gale force 8 veering westerly imminent, increasing severe gale 9 soon

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southwesterly gale force 8, veering westerly imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southwesterly gale force 8, veering westerly imminent

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southwesterly gale force 8, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminient

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Westerly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing south or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 16:52 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023

Gale now ceased, but westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, backing south or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southwesterly severe gale force 9, veering westerly and increasing storm 10 imminent

Wind: West gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 6 to 8, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Westerly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 imminent, then backing southwest and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West backing south or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Rain, thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Westerly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: West 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023

Southwesterly gale force 8, veering westerly severe gale force 9 later

Wind: West 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 15:48 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023

Gale now ceased, easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 in south, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 03:54 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 later in south, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023

Southeasterly gale force 8, backing easterly imminent

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate late.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:50 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023

Gale force 8 now veered easterly

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
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.