Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at 1800
New low expected Forties 994 by 1800 Friday. Low Sole 1004 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Easterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
South Utsire
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Easterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Easterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, easterly 6 or 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. In southwest, cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- In northeast, moderate or rough. in southwest, moderate, but occasionally rough.
- Weather
- In northeast, rain, perhaps thundery. In southwest, rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good, occasionally poor. In southwest, moderate, occasionally very poor.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, easterly 6 or 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. In southwest, cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- In northeast, moderate or rough. in southwest, moderate, but occasionally rough.
- Weather
- In northeast, rain, perhaps thundery. In southwest, rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good, occasionally poor. In southwest, moderate, occasionally very poor.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally very poor.
Forth
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally very poor.
Tyne
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally very poor.
Dogger
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally very poor.
Fisher
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Easterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- East or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
German Bight
- Wind
- Southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Humber
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Thames
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dover
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Wight
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Portland
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Biscay
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in northeast.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Trafalgar
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fastnet
- Wind
- West or southwest, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally rough in far south.
- Weather
- Thundery rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Malin
- Wind
- North or northeast, backing northwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Hebrides
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
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.