Coast and Sea
Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at 1800
Low Forties 995 expected southern Norway 998 by 1800 Saturday. Low just west of Sole 1000 expected southeast England 998 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in west, otherwise moderate occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
South Utsire
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6. In southwest, westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering northerly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- In northeast, rough at first in south, otherwise moderate occasionally slight. in southwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In northeast, rain or showers, fog patches at first. In southwest, rain then showers, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Forties
- Wind
- In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6. In southwest, westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering northerly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- In northeast, rough at first in south, otherwise moderate occasionally slight. in southwest, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In northeast, rain or showers, fog patches at first. In southwest, rain then showers, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- In northeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering northerly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Forth
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering northerly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Tyne
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering northerly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Dogger
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering northerly 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Fisher
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
German Bight
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Humber
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Thames
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dover
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Wight
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Portland
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Plymouth
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Biscay
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Trafalgar
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Mainly good.
FitzRoy
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- In south, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In north, westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- In south, moderate or rough. in north, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
- Weather
- In south, occasional rain. In north, thundery rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- In south, good, occasionally moderate. In north, good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- In south, westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In north, westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- In south, moderate or rough. in north, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
- Weather
- In south, occasional rain. In north, thundery rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- In south, good, occasionally moderate. In north, good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, veering westerly and increasing severe gale force 9 soon
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north.
- Weather
- Thundery rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fastnet
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Irish Sea
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Thundery rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 6 or 7 at first in south, otherwise 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Malin
- Wind
- Northeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Hebrides
- Wind
- Northeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northeast becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Fair Isle
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in southeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Faeroes
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight occasionally moderate in southeast.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Mainly 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.
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