Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Southeast Iceland 991 moving away northwards by midday tomorrow. New high expected north Biscay 1022 by same time

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Wed 18 May 2022.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 May 2022 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 19 May 2022.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, veering southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Cromarty

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Forth

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Tyne

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Dogger

Wind: In west, southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. In east, variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: In west, slight or moderate. in east, slight occasionally smooth.
Weather: In west, rain for a time. In east, thundery showers for a time, fog patches.
Visibility: In west, good, becoming moderate or poor for a time. In east, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate at first in northwest, otherwise smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers for a time, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Thundery showers for a time, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Thundery showers then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Biscay

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northwest, moderate throughout in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Tue 17 May 2022

Wind: In southeast, northerly 4 to 6. In northwest, southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather: In southeast, fair. In northwest, showers.
Visibility: In southeast, good. In northwest, good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in south and east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Sole

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7 veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7 veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Irish Sea

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 18 May 2022

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Tue 17 May 2022

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Rockall

Gale warning: Issued: 21:56 (UTC) on Tue 17 May 2022

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southeasterly at first in northeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Malin

Gale warning: Issued: 09:47 (UTC) on Wed 18 May 2022

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in northwest, moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Hebrides

Gale warning: Issued: 18:44 (UTC) on Wed 18 May 2022

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind: Southeast veering south, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southeast veering south, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.