Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at 1800

High Forties 1030 expected German Bight 1025 by 1800 Thursday

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

North Utsire

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in west.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Cromarty

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Forth

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Tyne

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair, thundery showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Dogger

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Showers for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Fisher

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

German Bight

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Humber

Wind
East or southeast veering south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery for a time.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
East or southeast veering south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming northerly in west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in southeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later in far south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Sole

Wind
South veering southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Lundy

Wind
South or southeast veering southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog banks until later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Fastnet

Wind
South or southeast veering southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery at first, fog banks until later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Irish Sea

Wind
East or southeast veering south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Thundery showers at first, fog patches developing.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind
South or southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind
South or southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind
South or southeast veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, then northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough later near coast.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or 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.