Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midnight
High Forth 1026 expected German Bight 1028 by midnight tonight
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Forties
- Wind
- In east, northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly 4 or 5 later. In west, variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In east, moderate, becoming slight or moderate later. in west, moderate.
- Weather
- In east, showers at first. In west, fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Wind
- In east, northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly 4 or 5 later. In west, variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In east, moderate, becoming slight or moderate later. in west, moderate.
- Weather
- In east, showers at first. In west, fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forth
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Tyne
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dogger
- Wind
- In southwest, variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. In northeast, northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dogger
- Wind
- In southwest, variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. In northeast, northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fisher
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate, then slight later.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
German Bight
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in north, otherwise moderate, but becoming slight later.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Humber
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Thames
- Wind
- East or northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dover
- Wind
- East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Wight
- Wind
- East or northeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Portland
- Wind
- East or northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Plymouth
- Wind
- East or northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Biscay
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, southerly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair. In northwest, thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in northwest.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but becoming variable 3 or less in west and in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, southerly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair. In northwest, thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in northwest.
Sole
- Wind
- In west, southerly 3 to 5. In east, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate. in east, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In west, thundery showers. In east, mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in west.
Sole
- Wind
- In west, southerly 3 to 5. In east, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate. in east, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In west, thundery showers. In east, mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in west.
Lundy
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers in west.
- Visibility
- Good.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery later, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Malin
- Wind
- Southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southeast, veering south later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery later, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in west.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly 2 to 4 backing southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 2 to 4 backing southeasterly 4 to 6, then backing northeasterly later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very 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.