Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midnight
New low expected southeast Bailey 998 by midnight tonight
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- In northwest, northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in north. In southeast, variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In northwest, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. in southeast, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Viking
- Wind
- In northwest, northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in north. In southeast, variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In northwest, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. in southeast, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Forties
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Forth
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Tyne
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Dogger
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Fisher
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in northeast.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
German Bight
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then west 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Humber
- Wind
- West or southwest, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Thames
- Wind
- West or southwest, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Dover
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Wight
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Portland
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Plymouth
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Biscay
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate in far northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in north.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In south, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, westerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in far south, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In south, mainly fair. In north, drizzle, then rain later.
- Visibility
- In south, moderate or good. In north, good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In south, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, westerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in far south, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In south, mainly fair. In north, drizzle, then rain later.
- Visibility
- In south, moderate or good. In north, good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Wind
- West 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fastnet
- Wind
- West 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- West 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Malin
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Hebrides
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- In south, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. In north, cyclonic, becoming northeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally 4, then increasing gale 8 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in north.
- Weather
- In south, rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. In north, rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Hebrides
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- In south, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. In north, cyclonic, becoming northeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally 4, then increasing gale 8 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in north.
- Weather
- In south, rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. In north, rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming northeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in south, then increasing gale 8 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Easterly, backing northeasterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in northwest, but in southeast, slight becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in south.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Easterly, backing northeasterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest, perhaps gale 8 for a time later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in south.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Easterly, backing northeasterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in south.
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.