Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

High 300 miles west of Rockall 1031 expected Rockall with little change by 1800 Saturday. New low expected southern France 1011 by same time. Low 200 miles west of Trafalgar 1009 moving slowly away west

Issued at: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 27 May 2023.

For the period 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 May 2023 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 29 May 2023.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Northwesterly 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Forties

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: North, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in southeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Northeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: In north, northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. In south, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In north, slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. in south, slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: In north, fair. In south, fair.
Visibility: In north, good. In south, good.

Trafalgar

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 4 or 5 for a time in far southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Good occasionally moderate.
Visibility: Showers.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. In north, northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, moderate occasionally slight. in north, moderate.
Weather: In south, showers. In north, fair.
Visibility: In south, good occasionally moderate. In north, good.

Sole

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

Lundy

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: North, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: North, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northwest, backing west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest, backing west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Northwesterly, backing westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far north.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwesterly, backing westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far north.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.