Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low Fair Isle 1017 losing its identity by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Sun 19 May 2024.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 May 2024 to 12:00 (UTC) on Mon 20 May 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly, veering easterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight becoming moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight, becoming moderate in east.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forth

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Tyne

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dogger

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming moderate in east.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fisher

Wind: North veering east or northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable becoming northeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable becoming northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable becoming northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind: Variable becoming north or northwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate at first in west.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: North or northwest, becoming variable at times later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: North or northwest, becoming variable at times later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind: North, veering east or northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first, showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: North, veering east or northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: North, veering east or northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5 at first in far southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable becoming southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: East veering south, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight near faroe islands.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 03:45 (UTC) on Sun 19 May 2024

Easterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind: Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in west, veering southerly 3 to 5 except in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far west.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very 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.