Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midday
Low Faeroes 1003 moving steadily northeast and losing its identity by midday tomorrow
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Southerly veering westerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Southerly veering westerly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 or 4, veering northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Forties
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Cromarty
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forth
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Tyne
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dogger
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fisher
- Wind
- Southwest veering west, then northwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
German Bight
- Wind
- Southwest veering west, then northwest later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Humber
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Thames
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dover
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Wight
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Portland
- Wind
- North 3 to 5, becoming variable, mainly north, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Plymouth
- Wind
- North 3 to 5, becoming variable, mainly north, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Biscay
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Trafalgar
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, but variable 3 or 4 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in southeast.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast . In northwest, southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight at first in east. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, showers. In northwest, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast . In northwest, southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west.
- Sea state
- In southeast, moderate, occasionally slight at first in east. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, showers. In northwest, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally moderate.
Sole
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Lundy
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fastnet
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Rockall
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Malin
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Hebrides
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, backing south 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly, then backing southerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- 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, becoming southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 later. In northwest, northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southeast. in northwest, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In northwest, rain.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In northwest, moderate or poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 later. In northwest, northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southeast. In northwest, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, occasional rain, fog patches. In northwest, rain.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In northwest, moderate or 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.