Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected southern eastern 1009 by midnight tonight

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain until later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain until later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain until later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Variable becoming northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Fisher

Wind
South becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

German Bight

Wind
South becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Humber

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, decreasing 2 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Variable, mainly west, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in far east.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in far east.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east, and rough at first in west.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind
North or northeast backing west or southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

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.