Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

High Fisher 1033 expected Kattegat 1034 by midday tomorrow. New low expected just northeast of Iceland 1000 by same time.

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Tue 1 Apr 2025.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 1 Apr 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Wed 2 Apr 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Southerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable, mainly southerly or southeasterly, 3 or less, occasionally 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable, mainly southerly or southeasterly, 3 or less.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

Forties

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Variable 3 or less, becoming east 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog banks developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Variable 2 or less at first in north, otherwise easterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in southwest.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in southwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

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

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Mon 31 Mar 2025

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 21:49 (UTC) on Mon 31 Mar 2025

Easterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: In north, easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. In south, easterly 4 to 6, but variable 3 or less until later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In north, thundery showers later. In south, thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Mon 31 Mar 2025

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering westerly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers, rain later in west.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, but moderate later in west.

Lundy

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

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

Shannon

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, backing east 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Tue 1 Apr 2025

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, veering westerly later in north, occasionally gale 8 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in north.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in southeast.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, increasing 7 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning: Issued: 15:54 (UTC) on Tue 1 Apr 2025

Westerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, but cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in north, veering westerly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
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.