Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midday

Low Bailey 996 expected just north of Faeroes 999 by midday tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
South 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable 3, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Wind
Variable 3, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Wind
South 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind
South 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind
South 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind
Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind
Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fisher

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

German Bight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Humber

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In south, easterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state
In north, smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. in south, slight or moderate.
Weather
In north, showers. In south, thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. In south, easterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state
In north, smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. in south, slight or moderate.
Weather
In north, showers. In south, thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 4 or 5 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate becoming slight.
Weather
Showers, then rain later in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

FitzRoy

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

Sole

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Smooth or slight in northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind
South or southwest, veering northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
In south, northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6. In north, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In south, rough, occasionally very rough at first. in north, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
In south, good. In north, moderate or good.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
In south, northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6. In north, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In south, rough, occasionally very rough at first. in north, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
In south, good. In north, moderate or good.

Malin

Wind
Southwest veering northwest, then north later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southwest veering northwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally moderate in east and very rough in west.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Storm force 10 backing northerly and decreasing severe gale force 9 imminent

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather
Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
South veering southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 backing northerly soon

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, occasionally 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Severe gale force 9 backing northerly soon

Wind
Cyclonic mainly northerly, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Rain or squally wintry showers.
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.

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