Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

Low 400 miles west of Bailey 983 expected Bailey 986 by midnight tonight. High Biscay 1026 dissipating

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later. In southwest, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In northeast, moderate, occasionally rough at first. in southwest, slight or moderate.
Weather
In northeast, rain then showers. In southwest, rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later. In southwest, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In northeast, moderate, occasionally rough at first. in southwest, slight or moderate.
Weather
In northeast, rain then showers. In southwest, rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

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

Forth

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

Tyne

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

Dogger

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
Southeast 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather
Drizzle at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather
Drizzle at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather
Drizzle at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Drizzle in northwest.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in northwest.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic in east, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in east.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic mainly northeasterly, 3 to 5. In northwest, southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest.
Sea state
In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
Weather
In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic mainly northeasterly, 3 to 5. In northwest, southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest.
Sea state
In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
Weather
In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Southwest, veering west or northwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Southwest, veering west or northwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Southwest, veering west or northwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Southwest, veering west or northwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwest, veering west later, 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Showers, squally and thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Showers, squally and thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in north and gale 8 later in south.
Sea state
Rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or squally showers, thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Easterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 until later in west.
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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