Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 1800

Low FitzRoy 1004 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind
In west, westerly backing southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and later. In east, cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
In west, moderate or rough. in east, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
In west, showers. In east, rain.
Visibility
In west, good. In east, good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 now decreasing gale force 8

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Forties

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind
West backing southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Humber

Wind
West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Mainly slight.
Weather
Rain at first and later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Thames

Wind
West or northwest, backing southwest, 3 to 5, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Mainly slight.
Weather
Rain at first and later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Dover

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth for a time.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later, backing westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7 later in northwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
In east, cyclonic, becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first. In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
In east, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough. in west, rough or very rough.
Weather
In east, showers, rain later. In west, rain.
Visibility
In east, good, occasionally poor. In west, good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Irish Sea

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
South or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 5 to 7, backing south 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
West backing southwest later, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather
Rain, then wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
West 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally 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.