Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Trafalgar 1004 moving away slowly southwards

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far north.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

South Utsire

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forties

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state
Rough at first in far east, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
In west, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. In east, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
In west, occasional rain. In east, rain at times later.
Visibility
In west, good, occasionally moderate. In east, good, occasionally moderate later.

Fisher

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at times later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

German Bight

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state
Smooth or slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at times later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Humber

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
South or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Wight

Wind
Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state
Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in northwest.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Portland

Wind
Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 3 or less becoming northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Biscay

Wind
Variable mainly northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Showers in south, fog patches later in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in north.

Trafalgar

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 veering northerly soon

Forecast issued:

Wind
Cyclonic, 3 to 5 in east but 6 to gale 8 in west, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in east, very rough or high in west.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind
In south, cyclonic mainly northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. In north, northeasterly 3 to 5, backing northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In south, very rough at first in west, otherwise rough, but becoming moderate later in northeast. in north, very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
In south, thundery showers. In north, occasional drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility
In south, good, occasionally poor. In north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Sole

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in northeast, moderate or rough in southwest.
Weather
Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind
Northwesterly 3 at first in southeast, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Fair then rain, then showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Malin

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, decreasing 4 at times in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased, but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, decreasing 4 at times in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in southeast, rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, decreasing 4 at times in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased, but southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or 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.