Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midnight

High Scotland 1027 expected England 1037 by midnight tonight

Issued at: 05:05 (UTC) on Sat 11 Jan 2025.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Sat 11 Jan 2025 to 06:00 (UTC) on Sun 12 Jan 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

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

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Forties

Wind: In east, northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: In east, showers. In west, showers then fair.
Visibility: Good.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good.

Tyne

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good.

Dogger

Wind: In west, variable 2 to 4. In east, northerly 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 at times later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: In west, showers then fair. In east, showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fisher

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 at times later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

German Bight

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 at times later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Humber

Wind: Variable mainly north 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Thames

Wind: Variable mainly north 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northeast, smooth or slight in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Dover

Wind: Variable mainly north 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wight

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Portland

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Biscay

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain then fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sat 11 Jan 2025

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

FitzRoy

Wind: In east, northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4. In west, variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, occasional rain then fair. In west, drizzle and fog patches developing.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor at first. In west, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind: In west, variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 3 to 5. In east, northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2, then southerly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later in east.
Weather: In west, drizzle and fog patches developing. In east, fair.
Visibility: In west, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In east, good.

Lundy

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Fastnet

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Irish Sea

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, but becoming fair for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, but becoming fair for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind: Southeast veering south 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, but becoming fair for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southeast veering south 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, but becoming fair for a time.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 3 or less becoming south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough in northwest.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

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.