Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midnight
Low Southeast Iceland 988 losing its identity by midnight tonight. New low expected Fisher 998 by same time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 later in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- West, veering northwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Cromarty
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- West, veering northwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forth
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- West, veering northwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Tyne
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- West, veering northwest later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dogger
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- West, veering northwest later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fisher
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
German Bight
- Wind
- In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6. In southwest, northwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- In northeast, moderate, occasionally rough. in southwest, rough, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- In northeast, showers. In southwest, showers.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good. In southwest, good.
German Bight
- Wind
- In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6. In southwest, northwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- In northeast, moderate, occasionally rough. in southwest, rough, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- In northeast, showers. In southwest, showers.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good. In southwest, good.
Humber
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Thames
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dover
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Wight
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Portland
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Plymouth
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Biscay
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. In northwest, northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, occasional rain. In northwest, occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good occasionally moderate. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. In northwest, northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, occasional rain. In northwest, occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good occasionally moderate. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasional slight at first in north.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 2 to 4 later, then south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasional slight at first in north.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming poor later.
Rockall
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly imminent
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Malin
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 now veered northwesterly
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Hebrides
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 now veered northwesterly
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly severe gale force 9, decreasing gale force 8 soon
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
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.