Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

Low Norwegian Basin 994 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough at first in north, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind
Westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time at first in north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Wind
Westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Mainly slight or moderate, but becoming rough for a time in northeast.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
West or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
West or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
West or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
West or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight until later in west, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

Wind
Southwesterly 5 at first in far north, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in north, slight throughout in south.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
Variable 3 or less in far northwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, southwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state
In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather
In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, southwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state
In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather
In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Southeasterly veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north.
Sea state
Moderate becoming rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Malin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 4 to 6, then veering southwest later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 4 to 6, then veering southwest later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
East 3 to 5 veering southeast 6 to gale 8, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Fair then rain, then showers later.
Visibility
Good, becoming poor for a time.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 veering easterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 later in west, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

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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