Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

Low FitzRoy 1009 expected Shannon 1009 by midday tomorrow. High German Bight 1025 expected Baltic 1021 by same time. New highs 1017 and 1019 expected Hebrides and Portland by midday tomorrow.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Southwest veering northeast later, 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 for a time.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Occasional thundery rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate later in north.
Weather
Thundery rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly backing southeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind
Northeast veering southeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
East veering southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Humber

Wind
East veering southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
East veering southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
East veering west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind
East veering west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind
East veering west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind
East veering west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

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

Trafalgar

Wind
Cyclonic mainly southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Sole

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Lundy

Wind
East backing southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
East backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind
In northwest, variable 2 to 4. In southeast, northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In northwest, moderate. in southeast, moderate.
Weather
In northwest, rain. In southeast, thundery rain.
Visibility
In northwest, good, occasionally poor. In southeast, good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
In northwest, variable 2 to 4. In southeast, northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In northwest, moderate. in southeast, moderate.
Weather
In northwest, rain. In southeast, thundery rain.
Visibility
In northwest, good, occasionally poor. In southeast, good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Thundery rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, veering northeasterly later in southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional thundery rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, veering northeasterly later in southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional thundery rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
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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