Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low 200 miles west of Iceland 989 filling 997 by midday tomorrow. New low expected 50 miles west of Shannon 1007 by same time

Issued at: 16:25 (UTC) on Mon 20 May 2024.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 20 May 2024 to 18:00 (UTC) on Tue 21 May 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: Variable becoming mainly easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Utsire

Wind: Variable becoming mainly easterly or northeasterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind: North or northeast veering east later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Tyne

Wind: North or northeast veering east later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Dogger

Wind: North or northeast veering east later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Fisher

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable becoming west later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind: Variable becoming west later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 23:15 (UTC) on Sun 19 May 2024

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

FitzRoy

Wind: Variable becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
Weather: Fog patches at first, occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Sole

Wind: Variable becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
Weather: Fog patches at first, occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Lundy

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches as first, showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fastnet

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather: Fog patches as first, showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Fog patches as first, showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later in west, perhaps gale 8 later in far west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Fog patches at first, occasionally rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fog patches at first, occasionally rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Malin

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

Hebrides

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

Bailey

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Fog patches, occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches, occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches, occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches, occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or 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.