Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midnight
Low Viking 995 losing its identity by midnight tonight. High FitzRoy 1025 expected Low countries 1027 by same time. New low expected 100 miles west of Shannon 991 by that time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
South Utsire
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Forties
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon
- Wind
- In east, northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5. In west, westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- In east, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. in west, moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- In east, showers. In west, showers then rain.
- Visibility
- In east, moderate or good. In west, moderate or good.
Forties
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon
- Wind
- In east, northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5. In west, westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- In east, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. in west, moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- In east, showers. In west, showers then rain.
- Visibility
- In east, moderate or good. In west, moderate or good.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Forth
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Tyne
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Dogger
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon
- Wind
- In west, westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5. In east, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate or rough, occasionally slight later. in east, moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time.
- Weather
- In west, showers then rain. In east, showers.
- Visibility
- In west, moderate or good. In east, moderate or good.
Dogger
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon
- Wind
- In west, westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5. In east, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate or rough, occasionally slight later. in east, moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time.
- Weather
- In west, showers then rain. In east, showers.
- Visibility
- In west, moderate or good. In east, moderate or good.
Fisher
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
German Bight
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Gale force 8 veering northwesterly soon
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Humber
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6 becoming variable 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Mainly good.
Thames
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6 becoming variable 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Mainly good.
Dover
- Wind
- Northwest backing south or southeast 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Wight
- Wind
- Northwest backing south or southeast 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Portland
- Wind
- Northwest backing south or southeast 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Variable 3 or 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Biscay
- Wind
- In north, variable 3 or 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5. In south, easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- In north, moderate or rough, occasionally slight later. in south, slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
- Weather
- In north, rain later. In south, rain later.
- Visibility
- In north, moderate or good. In south, moderate or good.
Biscay
- Wind
- In north, variable 3 or 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5. In south, easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- In north, moderate or rough, occasionally slight later. in south, slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time.
- Weather
- In north, rain later. In south, rain later.
- Visibility
- In north, moderate or good. In south, moderate or good.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly or northeasterly becoming cyclonic 5 or 6. In northwest, southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 veering southwesterly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, rain later. In northwest, rain later.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, moderate or good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly or northeasterly becoming cyclonic 5 or 6. In northwest, southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 veering southwesterly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, rain later. In northwest, rain later.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, moderate or good.
Sole
- Wind
- In west, southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 veering southwesterly 5 or 6. In east, westerly 4 or 5 backing southerly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate or rough. in east, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- In west, rain later. In east, rain later.
- Visibility
- In west, moderate or good. In east, moderate or good.
Sole
- Wind
- In west, southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 veering southwesterly 5 or 6. In east, westerly 4 or 5 backing southerly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate or rough. in east, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- In west, rain later. In east, rain later.
- Visibility
- In west, moderate or good. In east, moderate or good.
Lundy
- Wind
- Westerly 4 or 5 backing southerly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Westerly 4 or 5 backing southerly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Westerly 4 or 5 backing southerly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Shannon
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- West 4 or 5 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Rockall
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- West 4 or 5 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Malin
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Hebrides
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Bailey
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 or 6 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
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.