Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

High just west of Rockall 1031 expected Faeroes 1035 by midday tomorrow. New low expected FitzRoy 1010 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

North Utsire

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Wind
In east, northerly 4 to 6. In west, northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
In east, moderate, occasionally slight at first. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather
In east, showers. In west, showers at first, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
In east, moderate or good. In west, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Forties

Wind
In east, northerly 4 to 6. In west, northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
In east, moderate, occasionally slight at first. in west, slight or moderate.
Weather
In east, showers. In west, showers at first, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
In east, moderate or good. In west, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Cromarty

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Forth

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers at first, perhaps thundery, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Tyne

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first, perhaps thundery, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dogger

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Fisher

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Humber

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind
Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind
Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind
Northeast 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Thundery showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far north.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far north.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
Weather
Thundery showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lundy

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fastnet

Wind
Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Irish Sea

Wind
North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight occasionally moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later in east.
Weather
Fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Rockall

Wind
In southeast, northeasterly 4 to 6. In northwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight later in east. in northwest, slight or moderate.
Weather
In southeast, fog patches later. In northwest, drizzle later.
Visibility
In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later. In northwest, good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind
In southeast, northeasterly 4 to 6. In northwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight later in east. in northwest, slight or moderate.
Weather
In southeast, fog patches later. In northwest, drizzle later.
Visibility
In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later. In northwest, good, occasionally poor later.

Malin

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind
In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
In southeast, fair. In northwest, mainly fair.
Visibility
In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good.

Hebrides

Wind
In southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
In southeast, fair. In northwest, mainly fair.
Visibility
In southeast, moderate or good. In northwest, good.

Bailey

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5 in northwest otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Fair Isle

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5 in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Faeroes

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5 in northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather
Fog patches developing.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally 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.

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