Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

Low just west of Shannon 1003 expected FitzRoy 1006 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 04:05 (UTC) on Thu 2 May 2024.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 2 May 2024 to 06:00 (UTC) on Fri 3 May 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

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

North Utsire

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

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

Forties

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in moray firth.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in moray firth.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in moray firth.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in moray firth.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in moray firth.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Gale warning: Issued: 21:52 (UTC) on Wed 1 May 2024

Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers and fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

Thames

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Portland

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Biscay

Wind: West or northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Wed 1 May 2024

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in south, otherwise westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

FitzRoy

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less in far north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain at first and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Occasionally very poor at first in, otherwise moderate or good.

Malin

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain at first and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Occasionally very poor at first, otherwise moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog banks until later.
Visibility: Very poor until later, otherwise moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly veering southeasterly later in west, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog banks at first.
Visibility: Poor or very poor at first, otherwise good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly veering southeasterly later in east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very 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.