Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at 1800
New low expected west Fisher 1005 by 1800 Wednesday. Low Biscay 1010 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering northerly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering northerly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Forties
- Wind
- In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later. In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- In north, moderate occasionally slight. in south, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in southeast.
- Weather
- In north, rain or showers. In south, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Forties
- Wind
- In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later. In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- In north, moderate occasionally slight. in south, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in southeast.
- Weather
- In north, rain or showers. In south, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwest 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Forth
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwest 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Tyne
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then northwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dogger
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then northwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in east.
- Weather
- Rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fisher
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
German Bight
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Humber
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then northwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Thames
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then northwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dover
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then northwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Wight
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then northwest 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Portland
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5, backing north 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, perhaps thundery, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5, backing north 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, perhaps thundery, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Biscay
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming north 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Trafalgar
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, veering northeasterly 6 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in north.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In south, northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6. In north, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In south, thundery showers. In north, rain then showers.
- Visibility
- In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally poor at first.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In south, northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6. In north, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In south, thundery showers. In north, rain then showers.
- Visibility
- In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, good, occasionally poor at first.
Sole
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lundy
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in north.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- North backing northwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Malin
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Hebrides
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- West veering northwest, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first in west, becoming moderate later in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Southwest, veering northwest later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- 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.
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.