Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at 1800

High Irish Sea 1028 expected Low countries 1025 by 1800 Thursday. Low North Utsire 1011 losing its identity by same time. New low expected just south of Iceland 959 by that time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Northwesterly, backing southerly later, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally moderate later in west.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly, backing southerly later, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind
Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, backing southerly later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Wind
West or northwest, backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind
West or northwest, backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind
West or northwest, backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind
West or northwest, backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind
West or northwest, backing south, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state
Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

German Bight

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state
Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Humber

Wind
North, backing south later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough at first in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
North, backing south later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
Variable, becoming east for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
Variable, becoming east for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
Variable, becoming east for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable, becoming east for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
Variable, becoming east for a time, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind
Easterly 4 to 6 in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in southeast and slight near shore.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5 . In northwest, southerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight near shore. in northwest, moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in northwest.
Weather
In southeast, fair. In northwest, rain later.
Visibility
In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate later.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5 . In northwest, southerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight near shore. in northwest, moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in northwest.
Weather
In southeast, fair. In northwest, rain later.
Visibility
In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate later.

Sole

Wind
In west, southerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6. In east, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
In west, moderate, becoming rough or very rough later. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather
In west, rain later. In east, rain later.
Visibility
In west, good, occasionally moderate later. In east, moderate or good.

Sole

Wind
In west, southerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6. In east, variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
In west, moderate, becoming rough or very rough later. in east, slight or moderate.
Weather
In west, rain later. In east, rain later.
Visibility
In west, good, occasionally moderate later. In east, moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
South, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 imminent, increasing severe gale force 9 soon

Wind
South, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high or very high later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southeast 4 or 5 at first, otherwise south, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon

Wind
Southeast 4 or 5 at first, otherwise south, veering southwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected soon, veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind
Southeast 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state
Rough becoming very rough, then high or very high later.
Weather
Rain, squally showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5, backing south 6 to gale 8, then veering southwest later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate until later in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming very rough later in far west.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, then veering southwest later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later, occasionally very high later in far southwest.
Weather
Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, then veering southwest later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later, occasionally very high later in far southwest.
Weather
Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or 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.

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