Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Low northwest FitzRoy 991 expected Wight 991 by 0600 tomorrow

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor at first.

North Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor at first.

South Utsire

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather
Wintry showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forties

Wind
In northeast, variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. In southwest, southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
In northeast, moderate or rough. in southwest, moderate becoming rough.
Weather
In northeast, wintry showers at first. In southwest, showers.
Visibility
In northeast, good, occasionally very poor at first. In southwest, good, occasionally moderate.

Cromarty

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in west, but in east, moderate becoming rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Forth

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate becoming rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Tyne

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate becoming rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Dogger

Wind
Southeasterly mainly 5 to 7, but 4 at first in northeast.
Sea state
Moderate becoming rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Fisher

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

German Bight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, but increasing 7 in southwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, but light icing developing.

Humber

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
East or southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Mainly fair then rain or snow.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate to very poor except in northeast.

Thames

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
East or southeast 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Mainly fair then rain or snow.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate to very poor.

Dover

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wight

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Portland

Wind
Southeast 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Plymouth

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Biscay

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwesterly later, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 for a time in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

FitzRoy

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 increasing storm force 10 imminent

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, then decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough at first in east, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Lundy

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale force 8 veering northwesterly and increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, increasing storm force 10 soon

Wind
In southwest, northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first. In northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state
In southwest, very rough or high, becoming very high for a time. in northeast, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
In southwest, showers. In northeast, rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 decreasing gale force 8 imminent, veering northwesterly soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later

Wind
In southwest, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9. In northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
In southwest, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather
In southwest, rain or showers. In northeast, rain.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northeasterly gale force 8 continuing

Wind
Northeasterly 7 or gale 8 at first in west, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very 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.

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