Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected southern Sweden 985 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Fri 6 Dec 2019.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Dec 2019 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 7 Dec 2019.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Westerly becoming cyclonic, then becoming northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Westerly becoming cyclonic, then becoming northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind: Westerly becoming cyclonic, then becoming northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

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

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind: Southwest veering west or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east.
Sea state: Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Thu 5 Dec 2019

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east.
Sea state: Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Thu 5 Dec 2019

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Dec 2019

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Dec 2019

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning: Issued: 15:52 (UTC) on Thu 5 Dec 2019

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Thu 5 Dec 2019

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Southwest veering west, 5 to 7, decreasing mainly 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at times in south, otherwise southwesterly veering westerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Fri 6 Dec 2019

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at times in south, otherwise southwesterly veering westerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Westerly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Dec 2019

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest veering west 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Fri 6 Dec 2019

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: Southwest veering west 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southwest veering west 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Gale warning: Issued: 21:53 (UTC) on Thu 5 Dec 2019

Gale force 8 now veered westerly

Wind: West backing southwest later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, becoming fair for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: West backing southwest later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, becoming fair for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind: West backing southwest later, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, becoming fair for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in north, otherwise westerly veering northwesterly, then becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in north, otherwise westerly veering northwesterly, then becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind: Cyclonic at first in south, otherwise westerly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate east of shetland.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering easterly later in west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering easterly later in west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

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.