Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at 1800
Low north Trafalgar 1000 expected south FitzRoy 1005 by 1800 Sunday. New low expected Fair Isle 1005 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later except in east.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Forth
- Wind
- Northeast backing northwest, 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Tyne
- Wind
- Northeast backing northwest, 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Dogger
- Wind
- Northeast backing northwest, 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Fisher
- Wind
- Northwest, backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
German Bight
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Humber
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Thames
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first then becoming rough at times.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dover
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first then becoming rough at times.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Wight
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first then becoming rough at times.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Portland
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first then becoming rough at times.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first then becoming rough at times.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Biscay
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north, perhaps gale 8 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Trafalgar
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate at times in far southeast.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic 4 to 6. In northwest, northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, thundery showers. In northwest, showers.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good, occasionally poor. In northwest, moderate or good.
FitzRoy
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic 4 to 6. In northwest, northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, thundery showers. In northwest, showers.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good, occasionally poor. In northwest, moderate or good.
Sole
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Lundy
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fastnet
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- Northeast 6 to gale 8, backing north 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Malin
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Hebrides
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic, then north later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or 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.
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