Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

High 200 miles west of Rockall 1033 slow-moving, intensifying 1036 by midnight tonight

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, then 3 or 4 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Northerly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Wind
Cyclonic mainly northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in east and 7 at first in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later, occasionally slight later in northwest.
Weather
Drizzle later in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

Cromarty

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Drizzle later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Forth

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Drizzle later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Tyne

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Drizzle later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Dogger

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Drizzle later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Fisher

Wind
In west, northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In east, cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
In west, moderate or rough. in east, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather
In west, fair. In east, thundery showers at first.
Visibility
In west, good. In east, good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind
In west, northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In east, cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
In west, moderate or rough. in east, moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather
In west, fair. In east, thundery showers at first.
Visibility
In west, good. In east, good, occasionally moderate.

German Bight

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Showers, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Humber

Wind
North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
North or northwest 4 or 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 at times.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 at times.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 at times.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 at times.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

Wind
Northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in south, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
Weather
Thundery showers in south.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate in south.

FitzRoy

Wind
Cyclonic in far south, otherwise northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in south, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
Weather
Thundery showers in south.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate in south.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Sole

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Lundy

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Irish Sea

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Rockall

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair then occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Malin

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair then occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Hebrides

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first in south.
Weather
Occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in north and slight at first in south.
Weather
Occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far southeast.
Weather
Occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind
Mainly variable 2 to 4 in northeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional drizzle, fog patches in northeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northeast.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Mainly variable 2 to 4 in northeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southwest.
Weather
Occasional drizzle, fog patches in northeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northeast.

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.

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