Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at 1800

Low Forties 1007 expected German Bight 998 by 1800 Monday. Low FitzRoy 1004 expected Trafalgar 1010 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Northerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 2 to 4 later in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Wind
Northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind
Variable 4, becoming northerly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming north 6 to gale 8, backing northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
North 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
North 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northerly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northerly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east.
Sea state
Moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West veering northwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest, then becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest, then becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest, then becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming smooth or slight later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, backing northwest, then becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northwest.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6. In northwest, northeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west. in northwest, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
In southeast, thundery showers. In northwest, showers.
Visibility
In southeast, good, occasionally poor. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6. In northwest, northeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west. in northwest, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
In southeast, thundery showers. In northwest, showers.
Visibility
In southeast, good, occasionally poor. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic, mainly north, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough becoming moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Lundy

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic, mainly north, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic, mainly north, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Irish Sea

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate occasionally smooth.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic mainly north, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times, becoming west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Cyclonic mainly north, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times, becoming west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Cyclonic mainly north, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times, becoming west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic mainly north, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times, becoming west 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
North backing west or northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 until later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
North backing west or northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 until later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally 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.