Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midnight
New low expected north of Iceland 976 by midnight tonight. Atlantic low 1006 expected Bailey 997 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering northwesterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering northwesterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering northwesterly for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Wind
- West 4 or 5, backing southwest 3 or 4, then south 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Cromarty
- Wind
- West 4 or 5, backing southwest 3 or 4, then south 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Forth
- Wind
- West 4 or 5, backing southwest 3 or 4, then south 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Tyne
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Dogger
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Fisher
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
German Bight
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Humber
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Thundery rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Thames
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Thundery rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Dover
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 or 5, decreasing 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Wight
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 or 5, decreasing 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Portland
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Biscay
- Wind
- Variable 4 or less.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In north, variable 4 or less, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 in northwest. In south, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In north, moderate, occasionally rough later in far northwest. in south, moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- In north, showers at first. In south, fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In north, variable 4 or less, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 in northwest. In south, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In north, moderate, occasionally rough later in far northwest. in south, moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- In north, showers at first. In south, fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Sole
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lundy
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Shannon
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- West 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Malin
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, but slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Hebrides
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast, becoming very rough in west.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Faeroes
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Squally 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.