Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midday
New low expected just west of Shannon 1006 by midday tomorrow
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Forties
- Wind
- Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Forth
- Wind
- Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Tyne
- Wind
- Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Dogger
- Wind
- Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Fisher
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
German Bight
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Humber
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Thames
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dover
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Wight
- Wind
- North or northwest veering east or northeast, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Portland
- Wind
- North or northwest veering east or northeast, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Plymouth
- Wind
- North or northwest veering east or northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Biscay
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- Northerly 3 to 5, occasionally variable 3 or less in far southeast and far west.
- Sea state
- Slight in far southeast, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic, becoming southwesterly later, 3 to 5. In northwest, southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly later in west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
- Weather
- In southeast, thundery showers in west. In northwest, occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good, occasionally poor in west. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic, becoming southwesterly later, 3 to 5. In northwest, southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly later in west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, slight or moderate, occasionally rough in northwest.
- Weather
- In southeast, thundery showers in west. In northwest, occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good, occasionally poor in west. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Wind
- In west, southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7. In east, variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate or rough. in east, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In west, occasional rain, perhaps thundery. In east, showers.
- Visibility
- In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, good.
Sole
- Wind
- In west, southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7. In east, variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate or rough. in east, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In west, occasional rain, perhaps thundery. In east, showers.
- Visibility
- In west, good, occasionally poor. In east, good.
Lundy
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, backing northeasterly later.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In south, moderate, occasionally rough later. in north, moderate.
- Weather
- In south, rain later. In north, showers.
- Visibility
- In south, good, occasionally poor later. In north, good.
Rockall
- Wind
- In south, variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In south, moderate, occasionally rough later. in north, moderate.
- Weather
- In south, rain later. In north, showers.
- Visibility
- In south, good, occasionally poor later. In north, good.
Malin
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7 in northwest, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in east.
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.