Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

Low Bailey 998 expected northeast of Faeroes 994 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Southeast veering southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Dogger

Wind
South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fisher

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 or 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Humber

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

Wind
Variable, becoming northwest later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
Northerly 3 to 5, but cyclonic 4 to 6 in far southeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

FitzRoy

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

Sole

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Irish Sea

Wind
South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shannon

Wind
Southwest veering west 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind
West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind
West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in northwest, slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northeast, becoming northwesterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Southerly 4 or 5, veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far southeast.
Weather
Rain at first, then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Northeasterly backing northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

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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