Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midday

High Rockall 1030 expected Forties 1033 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

Loading map…

Viking

Wind
Variable 2to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable becoming northwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

South Utsire

Wind
Variable 3 or less, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Wind
In east, northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4. In west, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In east, moderate becoming slight. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather
In east, fair. In west, showers at first, fog patches.
Visibility
In east, good. In west, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Dogger

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

German Bight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight, becoming slight or moderate, but occasionally smooth in northeast.
Weather
Rain or showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Humber

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Thames

Wind
Variable becoming northeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, then 6 or 7 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Variable becoming northeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, then 6 or 7 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Variable becoming northeast 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, then 6 or 7 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
North or northeast 3 to 5, veering northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
North or northeast 3 to 5, veering northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but 3 or 4 until later in south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Gale warning
Issued:

Easterly gale force 8 expected soon

Forecast issued:

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7. In northwest, northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, moderate, occasionally slight at first in east.
Weather
In southeast, thundery showers. In northwest, mainly fair.
Visibility
In southeast, good occasionally poor. In northwest, good.

Sole

Wind
Northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first in east.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Lundy

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Irish Sea

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, but slight at first in east.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Rockall

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, but southerly 4 or 5 in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough in far northwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate, then rough later in northwest.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough except in far southeast.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Wind
Variable, mainly southwest, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally 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.