Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midday
High Irish Sea 1023 expected Humber 1028 by midday tomorrow
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
South Utsire
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In southwest, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- In northeast, moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. in southwest, moderate or rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- In northeast, showers. In southwest, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good occasionally moderate. In southwest, good.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. In southwest, northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- In northeast, moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. in southwest, moderate or rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- In northeast, showers. In southwest, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good occasionally moderate. In southwest, good.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forth
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Tyne
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dogger
- Wind
- In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6 later. In east, northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In west, slight or moderate. in east, moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- In west, mainly fair. In east, fair.
- Visibility
- In west, good. In east, good.
Dogger
- Wind
- In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6 later. In east, northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In west, slight or moderate. in east, moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- In west, mainly fair. In east, fair.
- Visibility
- In west, good. In east, good.
Fisher
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 or 7, decreasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
German Bight
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Humber
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Thames
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Dover
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Wight
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Portland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Plymouth
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Biscay
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4 in east, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 in west.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair. In northwest, showers, thundery later.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
FitzRoy
- Wind
- In southeast, variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. In northwest, variable 2 to 4 in east, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 in west.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate. in northwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In southeast, fair. In northwest, showers, thundery later.
- Visibility
- In southeast, good. In northwest, good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in east, southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in west.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 to 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.
Malin
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.
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.