Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Iberia 1008 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Forth

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Tyne

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind
Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind
East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind
East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind
East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind
Variable, 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
Variable, 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
Variable, 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable, 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, northerly or northeasterly backing northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. In northwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
In southeast, showers. In northwest, rain later.
Visibility
In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Sole

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Lundy

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
South 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
South 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

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.