Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

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The general synopsis at midday

Low Portland 1002 moving slowly south, losing its identity by midday tomorrow

Issued at: 17:25 (UTC) on Sun 23 Mar 2025.

For the period 18:00 (UTC) on Sun 23 Mar 2025 to 18:00 (UTC) on Mon 24 Mar 2025.

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Shipping forecast and gale warnings explained

Viking

Wind: South 3 to 5, veering southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good becoming poor.

North Utsire

Wind: Southerly 3 or less, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

South Utsire

Wind: Southeasterly, veering southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Forties

Wind: In northeast, southeasterly, veering southwesterly, 4 to 6. In southwest, variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: In northeast, rough, becoming moderate, occasionally slight later. in southwest, moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: In northeast, showers. In southwest, fair.
Visibility: In northeast, good, occasionally moderate later. In southwest, good occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind: Variable, becoming southwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind: Variable, becoming southwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate becoming slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind: In south, variable, becoming southwesterly, 2 to 4. In north, easterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 4.
Sea state: In south, moderate becoming slight. in north, moderate or rough, becoming slight later.
Weather: In south, showers. In north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good occasionally moderate. In north, good.

German Bight

Wind: East or northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in southeast.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Humber

Wind: East or northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Thames

Wind: Variable, becoming north or northeast, 2 to 4, increasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Dover

Wind: Variable, becoming north or northeast, 2 to 4, increasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wight

Wind: Variable, becoming north or northeast, 2 to 4, increasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Portland

Wind: Variable, becoming north or northeast, 2 to 4, increasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Thundery showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Plymouth

Wind: North 5 to 7, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight in northeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Biscay

Gale warning: Issued: 03:57 (UTC) on Sun 23 Mar 2025

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming north 4 or 5.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued: 00:15 (UTC) on Sun 23 Mar 2025

Wind: North or northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but slight or moderate in southeast.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

FitzRoy

Wind: North 6 or 7, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Lundy

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Fastnet

Wind: North 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind: North 3 to 5, backing southwest 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: North, backing southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good becoming poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good becoming poor.

Malin

Wind: North, backing southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Hebrides

Wind: Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest, veering west later, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind: Variable 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good becoming poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate 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.