Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

Low Norwegian Basin 980 moving away slowly northeastwards

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
West or northwest 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate later in south.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7 decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state
Very rough at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in east, slight in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Humber

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Thames

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time, then occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather
Occasional rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in southeast.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first in south, then drizzle for a time.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough later in north.
Weather
Showers, then drizzle for a time.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first and rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in northeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Malin

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Hebrides

Wind
West 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in south.

Bailey

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in south.

Fair Isle

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
In northeast, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. In southwest, cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
In northeast, rough or very rough. in southwest, moderate or rough.
Weather
In northeast, occasional rain. In southwest, showers.
Visibility
In northeast, moderate or good. In southwest, good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
In northeast, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. In southwest, cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
In northeast, rough or very rough. In southwest, moderate or rough.
Weather
In northeast, occasional rain. In southwest, showers.
Visibility
In northeast, moderate or good. In southwest, good.

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.

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