Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Atlantic low 1008 moving rather quickly northeast expected just west of Bailey 1001 by midnight tonight. Low Trafalgar 1009 slow-moving, filling 1013 by same time. High Irish Sea 1029 expected the netherlands 1029 by that time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later. In southwest, westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
In northeast, moderate or rough. in southwest, slight or moderate.
Weather
In northeast, showers, rain later. In southwest, fair.
Visibility
In northeast, good, occasionally moderate. In southwest, good.

Cromarty

Wind
Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate occasionally smooth.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Forth

Wind
Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate occasionally smooth.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Tyne

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind
Northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind
In northeast, northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6. In southwest, northwesterly 2 to 4, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
In northeast, slight or moderate. in southwest, slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
In northeast, showers. In southwest, showers.
Visibility
In northeast, moderate or good. In southwest, moderate or good.

Humber

Wind
Northwesterly 2 to 4, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Biscay

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

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast and also at first in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
Northeasterly, becoming cyclonic in far south, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later in north.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind
In northwest, southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7. In southeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In northwest, moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. in southeast, moderate or rough.
Weather
In northwest, drizzle. In southeast, drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility
In northwest, good, occasionally poor. In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Westerly 6 or 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough except in far south.
Weather
Occasional rain.
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.