Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at midnight

Low Fastnet 996 expected Thames 995 by midnight tonight

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally poor.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
In northeast, southeasterly 7 or gale 8. In southwest, southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
In northeast, occasional sleet or snow. In southwest, occasional rain.
Visibility
In northeast, moderate, occasionally poor. In southwest, moderate or good.

Cromarty

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Forth

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Tyne

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dogger

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fisher

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
East 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
Weather
Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor. Light icing in east.

German Bight

Wind
East 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor. Light icing in east.

Humber

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Thames

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dover

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Wight

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Portland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Plymouth

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in northeast, rough or very rough in southwest.
Weather
Rain at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Biscay

Wind
West 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later

Forecast issued:

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southeast 6 to gale 8, then cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high later in far southwest.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southeast 6 to gale 8, then cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
West 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind
West 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather
Rain at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
West 4 to 6, backing southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Very rough, occasionally high in far west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Hebrides

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

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.