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.

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