Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

New high expected German Bight 1017 by midnight tonight

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor.

North Utsire

Wind
Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor.

South Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. In southwest, westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
In northeast, moderate occasionally slight. in southwest, slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
In northeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In southwest, fair then occasional rain.
Visibility
In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, good, occasionally poor.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. In southwest, westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
In northeast, moderate occasionally slight. in southwest, slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
In northeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In southwest, fair then occasional rain.
Visibility
In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Tyne

Wind
Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dogger

Wind
Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fisher

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6 in northeast, otherwise westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming slight later in southwest.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

German Bight

Wind
Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming slight later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

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

Thames

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

Dover

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

Wight

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

Portland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Drizzle later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Drizzle later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Trafalgar

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far southeast, otherwise northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in far southeast and rough later elsewhere.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast. In northwest, westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate, occasionally rough in southeast. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather
In southeast, showers. In northwest, occasional rain.
Visibility
In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
In southeast, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast. In northwest, westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate, occasionally rough in southeast. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather
In southeast, showers. In northwest, occasional rain.
Visibility
In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain, fog patches developing.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain, fog patches developing.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain, fog patches developing.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches until later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in north.
Sea state
Rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches until later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Malin

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches until later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Hebrides

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches until later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate in east, moderate or rough in west.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In northwest, northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later.
Weather
In southeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In northwest, rain, fog patches.
Visibility
In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In northwest, moderate to very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind
In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In northwest, northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate or rough. In northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later.
Weather
In southeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In northwest, rain, fog patches.
Visibility
In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In northwest, moderate to very 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.