Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midday
Low 200 miles west of Bailey 985 expected Faeroes 988 by midday tomorrow.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Forties
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Forth
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Tyne
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dogger
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fisher
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
German Bight
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Humber
- Wind
- In north, southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7 later. In south, westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- In north, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. in south, slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
- Weather
- In north, showers. In south, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In north, good, occasionally poor. In south, good, occasionally poor.
Humber
- Wind
- In north, southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 5 to 7 later. In south, westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- In north, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. in south, slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
- Weather
- In north, showers. In south, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In north, good, occasionally poor. In south, good, occasionally poor.
Thames
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dover
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Wight
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Portland
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time, veering northwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Biscay
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in northwest.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic in east, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in east.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good, occasionally poor. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good, occasionally poor. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7, becoming variable 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, then veering west 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fastnet
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, then veering west 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Irish Sea
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time in far south, then veering westerly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwest veering west 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 veering westerly soon
- Wind
- Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Malin
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Hebrides
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale now ceased but westerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Easterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- Easterly 6 to gale 8 at first in far west, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- 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.
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