Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

Low Rockall 981 expected Fair Isle 982 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather
Rain then showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

North Utsire

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather
Rain then showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather
Rain then showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forties

Wind
Southeast veering south, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain then showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather
Rain then thundery showers, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forth

Wind
South or southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
South or southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
South or southeast veering southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
South veering southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
South veering southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in east, slight or moderate in west.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
Southwesterly veering westerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
Southwesterly veering westerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
In north, southwesterly veering westerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. In south, westerly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
In north, rough or very rough. in south, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
In north, squally showers. In south, rain then showers.
Visibility
In north, good, occasionally poor. In south, moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind
In north, southwesterly veering westerly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. In south, westerly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
In north, rough or very rough. in south, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
In north, squally showers. In south, rain then showers.
Visibility
In north, good, occasionally poor. In south, moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
In south, westerly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6. In north, westerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
In south, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather
In south, rain then showers. In north, squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Trafalgar

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
In south, westerly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6. In north, westerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
In south, moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough. in north, rough or very rough.
Weather
In south, rain then showers. In north, squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in southwest.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, squally or thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon

Wind
West or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming west or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7 later in southwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then becoming very rough later in southwest.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

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

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in north.
Weather
Occasional rain.
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.