Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

Low Viking 1000 expected southern Sweden 1000 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south, backing westerly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, then backing southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough , occasionally very rough at first in northeast, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Cromarty

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Forth

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Tyne

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dogger

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northeast, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5 in southwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

Wind
North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Mainly good.

Trafalgar

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 veering northeasterly soon

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 until later in north, and veering easterly 5 to 7 later in far southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough until later in north, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
In south, northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in north. In north, northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4.
Sea state
In south, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far southwest. in north, moderate.
Weather
In south, fair. In north, fog patches later.
Visibility
In south, good. In north, good, occasionally very poor later.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
In south, northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in north. In north, northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4.
Sea state
In south, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far southwest. in north, moderate.
Weather
In south, fair. In north, fog patches later.
Visibility
In south, good. In north, good, occasionally very poor later.

Sole

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Fog patches later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor later.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind
Northwesterly 4 or 5 at times in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather
Occasional rain and fog patches later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor later.

Rockall

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northwest 6 to gale 8 backing west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Faeroes

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
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.

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