Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low Portland 1002 moving slowly south, losing its identity by midday tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
South 3 to 5, veering southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair then rain.
Visibility
Good becoming poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Southerly 3 or less, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, becoming poor later.

South Utsire

Wind
Southeasterly, veering southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, southeasterly, veering southwesterly, 4 to 6. In southwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In northeast, rough, becoming moderate, occasionally slight later. in southwest, moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
In northeast, showers. In southwest, fair.
Visibility
In northeast, good, occasionally moderate later. In southwest, good occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Variable, becoming southwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
Variable, becoming southwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind
In south, variable, becoming southwesterly, 2 to 4. In north, easterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 4.
Sea state
In south, moderate becoming slight. in north, moderate or rough, becoming slight later.
Weather
In south, showers. In north, showers.
Visibility
In south, good occasionally moderate. In north, good.

German Bight

Wind
East or northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast.
Weather
Showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

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

Thames

Wind
Variable, becoming north or northeast, 2 to 4, increasing 5 for a time.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind
Variable, becoming north or northeast, 2 to 4, increasing 5 for a time.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind
Variable, becoming north or northeast, 2 to 4, increasing 5 for a time.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind
Variable, becoming north or northeast, 2 to 4, increasing 5 for a time.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind
North 5 to 7, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight in northeast.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming north 4 or 5.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
North or northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, but slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
North 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state
Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind
North 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind
North 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind
North 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind
North 3 to 5, backing southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind
North, backing southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough becoming moderate.
Weather
Fair then rain.
Visibility
Good becoming poor.

Rockall

Wind
Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair then rain.
Visibility
Good becoming poor.

Malin

Wind
North, backing southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, becoming poor later.

Hebrides

Wind
Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Variable 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair then rain.
Visibility
Good becoming poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate 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.