Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

High Ireland 1030 expected Forth 1033 by 0600 Sunday

Issued at: 10:30 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024 to 12:00 (UTC) on Sun 21 Apr 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 veering northerly and decreasing gale force 8 soon

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Gale warning: Issued: 15:50 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Gale force 8 veering northerly later

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Forth

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Tyne

Wind: North 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Dogger

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024

Gale now ceased, but northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time, then decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: North 6 to gale 8, veering northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Gale warning: Issued: 09:50 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024

Gale now ceased, but northerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northeast 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth for a time.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Plymouth

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth for a time.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Biscay

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Fri 19 Apr 2024

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, but 5 to 7 near strait of gibraltar until later, becoming mainly north 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near strait of gibraltar.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Gale warning: Issued: 03:48 (UTC) on Sat 20 Apr 2024

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

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

Lundy

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fastnet

Wind: East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Malin

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

Hebrides

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
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.

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.