Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at 0600

Low western Denmark 995 losing its identity

Issued at: 11:30 (UTC) on Wed 12 Mar 2025.

For the period 12:00 (UTC) on Wed 12 Mar 2025 to 12:00 (UTC) on Thu 13 Mar 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: North 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north and 3 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, then becoming variable 2 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain, sleet or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind: In east, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, then becoming variable 2 at times. In west, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In east, rain, sleet or wintry showers. In west, showers, squally at first and perhaps wintry.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, squally at first and perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers, squally at first and perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, squally at first and perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: In west, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In east, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In west, showers, squally at first and perhaps wintry. In east, rain, sleet or wintry showers.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind: In west, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. In east, cyclonic becoming northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: In west, rain, sleet or wintry showers. In east, rain or snow.
Visibility: In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, moderate to very poor.

German Bight

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in northwest and slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers, wintry at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in northwest and slight in southeast.
Weather: Showers, wintry at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind: In north, northerly or northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. In south, northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, then becoming cyclonic later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: In north, showers, perhaps wintry. In south, thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Gale warning: Issued: 03:46 (UTC) on Wed 12 Mar 2025

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Wed 12 Mar 2025

Wind: In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 or 5.
Sea state: In south, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west. in north, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: In south, thundery rain or showers. In north, occasional rain.
Visibility: In south, good occasionally poor. In north, good occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind: In south, variable 2 to 4 becoming northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in far southwest.
Weather: In south, rain or showers. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good. In north, good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Northeast backing north or northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Malin

Wind: Northeast backing north or northwest, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Hebrides

Wind: Northeast backing north or northwest, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Fair Isle

Wind: North 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming easterly or northeasterly later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 for a time in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate near iceland.
Weather: Wintry 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.

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.