Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

Low Shannon 1004 slow-moving with little change by midnight tonight. Low France 1009 expected Wight 1008 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Variable, becoming easterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable, becoming easterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind
Variable, becoming easterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind
East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Cromarty

Wind
East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Forth

Wind
East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Tyne

Wind
East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Dogger

Wind
East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Fisher

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 4 or 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

German Bight

Wind
East, veering southeast later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers later.
Visibility
Good.

Humber

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
Southwesterly at first in north, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
Cyclonic mainly southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first in east.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Cyclonic mainly southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first in east, becoming rough at times later in west.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
South or southeast, veering southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind
South or southeast, veering southwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly, veering southerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state
Smooth or slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, thundery later, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times, but occasionally 7 at first in far north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest.
Weather
Rain, thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers, then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
In southeast, northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate, occasionally rough later. in northwest, moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Bailey

Wind
In southeast, northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate, occasionally rough later. in northwest, moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fair Isle

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 in west.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
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.

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