Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

Atlantic low moving rapidly northeast, expected just west of Sole 990 by midday tomorrow. Low Cromarty 982 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Southeasterly veering southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Southeasterly veering southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Southeasterly veering southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind
South or southwest, veering west for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
South or southwest, veering west for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
South or southwest, veering west for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
South or southwest, veering west for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
South or southwest, veering west for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind
West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
West 6 or 7, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
Northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 later in southeast.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Trafalgar

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in southeast.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In southeast, northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. In northwest, northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
In southeast, rough, occasionally very rough at first. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather
In southeast, showers. In northwest, showers then rain.
Visibility
In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In southeast, northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. In northwest, northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
In southeast, rough, occasionally very rough at first. in northwest, rough or very rough.
Weather
In southeast, showers. In northwest, showers then rain.
Visibility
In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, backing southwest, then south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, backing southwest, then south later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
West 5 to 7, backing southwest, then south later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
West 6 to gale 8, backing south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
West 6 to gale 8, backing south or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7, backing southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Variable 3 at first in northeast, otherwise westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, backing southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally 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.