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: 05:05 (UTC) on Wed 30 Oct 2024.

For the period 06:00 (UTC) on Wed 30 Oct 2024 to 06:00 (UTC) on Thu 31 Oct 2024.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

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: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 30 Oct 2024

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: 03:55 (UTC) on Wed 30 Oct 2024

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: 21:49 (UTC) on Tue 29 Oct 2024

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: 03:55 (UTC) on Wed 30 Oct 2024

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: 03:55 (UTC) on Wed 30 Oct 2024

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.