Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

Low Portland 999 losing its identity

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
Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or snow.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest and 4 elsewhere.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Southeasterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Southeasterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Southeasterly mainly 5 to 7, but 3 to 5 at first in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Mainly moderate or rough, but very rough in far northwest.
Weather
Sleet or snow.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in east.

German Bight

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in east.

Humber

Wind
Southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 imminent

Wind
Cyclonic becoming southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
Cyclonic becoming southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
Northwest 2 to 4 veering southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate later.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 5 to 7, then veering southwest later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Forecast issued:

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high in southwest.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in northeast, rough or very rough in southwest.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soom, increasing storm force 10 later

Wind
In southwest, southeasterly 7 or gale 8 increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. In northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 7 or gale 8.
Sea state
In southwest, very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough.
Weather
In southwest, rain. In northeast, rain later.
Visibility
In southwest, moderate or poor. In northeast, moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 7 or gale 8. In northeast, cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
In southwest, rain later. In northeast, showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
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.