Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low west of Bailey 981 expected Southeast Iceland 983 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Sun 24 Oct 2021.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 24 Oct 2021 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 25 Oct 2021.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later in southeast.
Weather: Rain, squally showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later in southeast.
Weather: Rain, squally showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly veering southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind: South veering southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: South veering southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers, squally later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: South veering southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, squally later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: South 5 to 7 veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: South 5 to 7 veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: South veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind: South veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind: South veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, showers later, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain then showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6 veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6 veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, but variable 4 or less in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 23 Oct 2021

Wind: Northeasterly 5 or 6 in far southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, but variable 4 or less in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming rough, but moderate at first in southeast.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northeast, otherwise rough or very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers, perhaps thundery, rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers, perhaps thundery, rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Sun 24 Oct 2021

Gale now ceased, but westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough, but moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Sun 24 Oct 2021

Gale now ceased, but westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic until later in northwest, otherwise southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: South veering west or southwest, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Sun 24 Oct 2021

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: South veering west or southwest, 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 09:57 (UTC) on Sun 24 Oct 2021

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later near the coast.
Weather: Squally 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.