Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low 500 miles west of Sole 998 expected 150 miles west of Shannon 993 by 1800 Thursday

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain and fog patches, then showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain and fog patches, then showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain and fog patches, then showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
In northeast, southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6. In southwest, southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in southwest.
Weather
In northeast, rain and fog patches, then showers later. In southwest, occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility
In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later. In southwest, good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind
Southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough until later in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Forth

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Tyne

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then veering south or southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state
Rough at first in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at first, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6 veering south or southwest 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at first, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later, occasionally variable 2 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later, occasionally variable 2 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 3 to 5 later. In southeast, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In northwest, rough or very rough. in southeast, moderate or rough.
Weather
In northwest, showers. In southeast, fog patches.
Visibility
In northwest, good, occasionally moderate. In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Trafalgar

Wind
In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, showers then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in northwest.

Sole

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
Sea state
High at first in northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly 4 to 6, then decreasing 3 for a time in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
South or southwest 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
High becoming very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Wind
South or southwest becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather
Thundery showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate later in west.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in northeast, then veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain and fog patches, then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6 veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain and fog patches, then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or less.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate later in west.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.