Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

High FitzRoy 1037, dissipating

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
West backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind
West backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind
West backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind
West backing southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

Portland

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

Biscay

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
In south, northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
In south, moderate or rough. in north, moderate or rough.
Weather
In south, mainly fair. In north, occasional drizzle.
Visibility
In south, good occasionally moderate. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming rough.
Weather
Squally rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming rough.
Weather
Squally rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, then northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming rough.
Weather
Squally rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming rough.
Weather
Squally rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in southeast, otherwise northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough.
Weather
Squally rain then wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southwesterly veering northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, perhaps gale 8 later in southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather
Squally rain, showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally rain then wintry showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 now veered westerly and decreased gale force 8

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
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.