Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

New low expected just north of Iceland 981 by midnight tonight

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming south 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

South Utsire

Wind
Northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Forties

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 5 to 7, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, backing south 5 to 7, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
Southwest 3 or 4, backing south 5 or 6, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Southwest 3 or 4, backing south 5 or 6, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
Southwest 3 or 4, backing south 5 or 6, then veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind
Northwest backing southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

German Bight

Wind
Northwest backing southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Humber

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Thames

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dover

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Wight

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Portland

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Plymouth

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Drizzle later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
North 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in far southeast.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Sole

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Lundy

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Fastnet

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Irish Sea

Wind
South 5 to 7, veering west 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind
West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough, becoming very rough later in far northwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Malin

Wind
South 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
South 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far northwest.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 imminent

Wind
South veering southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Fair Isle

Wind
South veering southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected soon

Wind
South veering southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7, veering southwesterly 4 or 5, then veering westerly 5 to 7 perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in southwest.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, 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.

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