Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected Fair Isle 997 by midnight tonight. Low just west of Rockall 998 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

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

South Utsire

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

Forties

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

Cromarty

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind
South 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate at first in west.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
South veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Rain at first, then thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
South veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Rain at first, then thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
West 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

FitzRoy

Wind
Northwesterly backing southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Sole

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Hebrides

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fair Isle

Wind
East becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather
Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight near iceland.
Weather
Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.