Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected southeast Bailey 998 by midnight tonight

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
In northwest, northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in north. In southeast, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In northwest, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. in southeast, slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Viking

Wind
In northwest, northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in north. In southeast, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
In northwest, slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. in southeast, slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Cromarty

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Forth

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in northeast.
Weather
Fair then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind
Variable 3 or less becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Humber

Wind
West or southwest, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind
West or southwest, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, becoming moderate in far northwest.
Weather
Occasional rain in north.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in north.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
In southeast, variable 2 to 4. In northwest, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

Wind
In south, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, westerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first in far south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
In south, mainly fair. In north, drizzle, then rain later.
Visibility
In south, moderate or good. In north, good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
In south, northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. In north, westerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first in far south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
In south, mainly fair. In north, drizzle, then rain later.
Visibility
In south, moderate or good. In north, good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Drizzle, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

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

Fastnet

Wind
West 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
West 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northwest.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In south, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. In north, cyclonic, becoming northeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally 4, then increasing gale 8 at times later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in north.
Weather
In south, rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. In north, rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In south, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. In north, cyclonic, becoming northeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally 4, then increasing gale 8 at times later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in north.
Weather
In south, rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. In north, rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming northeasterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in south, then increasing gale 8 at times later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Easterly, backing northeasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in northwest, but in southeast, slight becoming moderate.
Weather
Rain in south.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in south.

Faeroes

Wind
Easterly, backing northeasterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southwest, perhaps gale 8 for a time later in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain in south.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in south.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Easterly, backing northeasterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain in south.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in south.

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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