Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

Low Faeroes 994 expected 350 miles east of Iceland 997 by midnight tonight. New low expected northeast Rockall 1006 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later. In southeast, southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In northwest, moderate, becoming slight later in south. in southeast, moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
In northwest, showers. In southeast, occasional rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
In northwest, good. In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Viking

Wind
In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later. In southeast, southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In northwest, moderate, becoming slight later in south. in southeast, moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
In northwest, showers. In southeast, occasional rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
In northwest, good. In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate at first in northeast, otherwise slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate at first in northeast, otherwise slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate at first in north, otherwise slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind
Variable 3 or less becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, then veering northwest later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind
Variable 3 or less becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, then veering northwest later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind
Variable 3 or less becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, then veering northwest later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind
Variable 3 or less becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, then veering northwest later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 3 or less becoming west or southwest 3 to 5, then veering northwest later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in south.

Biscay

Wind
Variable becoming northwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Showers, thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind
Variable becoming northwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind
Variable becoming northwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 in east.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first in northwest.
Visibility
Good.

Lundy

Wind
West or southwest, veering northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Fastnet

Wind
West or southwest, veering northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Irish Sea

Wind
West or southwest, veering northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Shannon

Wind
West or southwest, veering northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Rockall

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
In south, southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. In north, northerly 3 to 5 backing northwesterly 3 or 4.
Sea state
In south, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in north, rough becoming moderate.
Weather
In south, rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. In north, showers.
Visibility
In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind
In south, southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. In north, northerly 3 to 5 backing northwesterly 3 or 4.
Sea state
In south, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in north, rough becoming moderate.
Weather
In south, rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. In north, showers.
Visibility
In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind
Northerly 3 to 5 backing northwesterly 3 or 4.
Sea state
Rough becoming moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, then veering westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north, then becoming slight in southeast.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 becoming west or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in east.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northerly backing northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in east, slight or moderate in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or 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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