Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midnight
Low just north of shetland 996 moving slowly southeast, losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 4 or 5, then veering north 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5, then veering northerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Forth
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Tyne
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Dogger
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Fisher
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
German Bight
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Humber
- Wind
- Southwest, veering north or northwest, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Thames
- Wind
- Southwest veering northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Dover
- Wind
- West 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Wight
- Wind
- West 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Portland
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Biscay
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Trafalgar
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Sole
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Lundy
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southeast.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Malin
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Northwest veering north 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming north 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
- 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.