Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

High German Bight 1028 expected southeast Denmark 1030 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly backing southerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Cromarty

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Forth

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Tyne

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dogger

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Fisher

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

German Bight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Humber

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
East 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally smooth at first in east, becoming slight or moderate later in northwest.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but becoming variable 3 or less in west and in far southeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state
In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate.
Weather
In southeast, fair. In northwest, showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state
In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate.
Weather
In southeast, fair. In northwest, showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind
In west, southerly 3 to 5. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In west, moderate. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather
In west, showers, perhaps thundery. In east, fair.
Visibility
In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally moderate later.

Sole

Wind
In west, southerly 3 to 5. In east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In west, moderate. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather
In west, showers, perhaps thundery. In east, fair.
Visibility
In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally moderate later.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Irish Sea

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, veering south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, veering south 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, veering south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in southeast, otherwise moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later.

Hebrides

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, veering south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in east, otherwise moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later.

Bailey

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southeasterly veering southerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, 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.

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