Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at 0600
Low mid-Atlantic 994, slow moving, deepening 989 by 0600 tomorrow. New low Thames 1011 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, northwesterly 3 to 5. In southwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- In northeast, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in southwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In northeast, mainly fair. In southwest, mainly fair, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good. In southwest, good occasionally moderate.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, northwesterly 3 to 5. In southwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- In northeast, moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. in southwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In northeast, mainly fair. In southwest, mainly fair, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good. In southwest, good occasionally moderate.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Forth
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Tyne
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Dogger
- Wind
- In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later. In east, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In west, slight or moderate. in east, moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In west, mainly fair, then occasional rain. In east, mainly fair, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In west, good occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasional moderate.
Dogger
- Wind
- In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later. In east, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In west, slight or moderate. in east, moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In west, mainly fair, then occasional rain. In east, mainly fair, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In west, good occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasional moderate.
Fisher
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
German Bight
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Humber
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Thames
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery for a time.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Dover
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight. becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery for a time.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Wight
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming west or southwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery with fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Portland
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming west or southwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery with fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Plymouth
- Wind
- West backing southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Biscay
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Trafalgar
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4 at first in far southeast, elsewhere northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. In northwest, westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good, occasionally poor at first. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. In northwest, westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good, occasionally poor at first. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Lundy
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeast veering south later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Malin
- Wind
- Southeast veering south later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Easterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally very poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Easterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally very poor.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 or 4, veering east or southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 or 4, veering east or southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
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.