Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

Low Shannon 1009 expected Bailey 997 by midday tomorrow. Highs Biscay 1019 and Fair Isle 1017 losing their identities by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forth

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Tyne

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Thundery showers at first, fog patches later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor and later very poor.

German Bight

Wind
Variable becoming southeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
Variable becoming southeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight becoming smooth.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight becoming smooth.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Malin

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
East veering southeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 4 to 6, then cyclonic later.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Westerly 3 to 5, backing easterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor and 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.

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