Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

Highs southwest German Bight 1021 and southeast Shannon 1020 both dissipating

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate at first in west and north.
Weather
Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly mainly 3 to 5, but 6 at first in far east.
Sea state
Moderate at first in far east, otherwise slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Rain later, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dogger

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fisher

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northeast, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth for a time in west.
Weather
Fog banks.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

German Bight

Wind
Variable mainly northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly later in east, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog patches developing.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly becoming cyclonic, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in north.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate in northwest.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in west and 6 at times in southeast.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 in south, northeasterly 3 to 5 in north.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight in northeast, moderate in southwest.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain in northwest, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough until later in northwest, otherwise moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind
South or southwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind
South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Wind
South or southwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind
South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate at first in north and east, otherwise rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

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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