Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midnight
New high expected German Bight 1017 by midnight tonight
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. In southwest, westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In northeast, moderate occasionally slight. in southwest, slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- In northeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In southwest, fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, good, occasionally poor.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. In southwest, westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In northeast, moderate occasionally slight. in southwest, slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- In northeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In southwest, fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, good, occasionally poor.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Forth
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Tyne
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dogger
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fisher
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6 in northeast, otherwise westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight later in southwest.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
German Bight
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Humber
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Thames
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dover
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Wight
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Portland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Biscay
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Trafalgar
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far southeast, otherwise northerly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in far southeast and rough later elsewhere.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast. In northwest, westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate, occasionally rough in southeast. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, showers. In northwest, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast. In northwest, westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate, occasionally rough in southeast. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, showers. In northwest, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Fastnet
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Malin
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In northwest, northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later.
- Weather
- In southeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In northwest, rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In northwest, moderate to very poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In northwest, northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate or rough. In northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later.
- Weather
- In southeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In northwest, rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In northwest, 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.