Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at 0600
Low Sole 1002 losing its identity by 0600 tomorrow. Low in northeast France 1007 expected Forties 1000 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in south.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. In southwest, easterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In northeast, slight at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest. in southwest, moderate.
- Weather
- In northeast, rain later. In southwest, fair then thundery rain, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good, occasionally poor later. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. In southwest, easterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In northeast, slight at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest. in southwest, moderate.
- Weather
- In northeast, rain later. In southwest, fair then thundery rain, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good, occasionally poor later. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Easterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Fair then thundery rain, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later.
Forth
- Wind
- Easterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Fair then thundery rain, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later.
Tyne
- Wind
- Easterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Fair then thundery rain, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later.
Dogger
- Wind
- Easterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Fair then thundery rain, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later.
Fisher
- Wind
- East or southeast, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Thundery rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
German Bight
- Wind
- East or southeast, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Humber
- Wind
- East becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Thames
- Wind
- East becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Thundery rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Dover
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Wight
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Portland
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Biscay
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 6 or 7 at first in west, otherwise 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west at first.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- East becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Thundery rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northeasterly backing northwesterly then westerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Malin
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate in southeast.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Southeasterly backing northeasterly later 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to 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.