Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midnight
Low Norwegian Basin 994 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Westerly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in north, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time at first in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Forties
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but becoming rough for a time in northeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Cromarty
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, smooth or slight in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Forth
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Tyne
- Wind
- West or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dogger
- Wind
- West or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fisher
- Wind
- West or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
German Bight
- Wind
- West or southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Humber
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight until later in west, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Thames
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dover
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Wight
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Portland
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Biscay
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 at first in far north, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in north, slight throughout in south.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less in far northwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, rain, drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southeast, mainly fair. In northwest, rain, drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good. In northwest, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeasterly veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Malin
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 4 to 6, then veering southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 4 to 6, then veering southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- East 3 to 5 veering southeast 6 to gale 8, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming poor for a time.
Fair Isle
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Faeroes
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 veering easterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 later in west, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
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.