Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

New low expected Trafalgar 1009 by 0600 tomorrow. New high expected south Wales 1029 by same time. Lows German Bight 1009 and FitzRoy 1011 losing their identities

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
West backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind
In east, variable 2 to 4. In west, northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
In east, slight or moderate. in west, slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
In east, showers. In west, showers.
Visibility
In east, good, occasionally moderate. In west, good.

Cromarty

Wind
Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Forth

Wind
Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Tyne

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind
Cyclonic becoming north, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
Cyclonic becoming north, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming north 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming north 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Northwest veering north or northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
Northwest veering north or northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
Northwest veering north or northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
In south, cyclonic becoming northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later. In north, northeasterly 5 to 7, veering easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In south, rough, occasionally moderate in east. in north, rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather
In south, thundery showers. In north, showers.
Visibility
In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind
Northeasterly veering southeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Lundy

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Irish Sea

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far northwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7, then south 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
South or southwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
South or southwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 or gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Fair Isle

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
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.

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