Coast and sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings

The general synopsis at 0600

Atlantic low 978 expected Faeroes 962 by 0600 Wednesday

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map

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Viking

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Southerly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Southerly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

South Utsire

Gale warning
Issued:

Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Forties

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Cromarty

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Forth

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Tyne

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Dogger

Gale warning
Issued:

Southerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Southerly veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Fisher

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

German Bight

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Humber

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Thames

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Dover

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Wight

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Portland

Wind
South or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Plymouth

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Biscay

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Trafalgar

Forecast issued:

Wind
North or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

FitzRoy

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly gale force 8 expected later

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather
Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Fastnet

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Irish Sea

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Gale warning
Issued:

Southwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, veering west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Very rough becoming high, occasionally very high for a time in north.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing violent storm force 11 later

Wind
South or southwest 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 for a time, becoming west 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Very rough becoming high, occasionally very high for a time.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Malin

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southerly gale force 8 expected soon, veering southwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind
South or southwest 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Hebrides

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southerly severe gale force 9 expected soon, veering westerly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind
South or southwest 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Gale warning
Issued:

Gale now ceased but southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, veering northwesterly and increasing storm force 10 later

Wind
South or southwest 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Fair Isle

Gale warning
Issued:

Westerly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state
Moderate at first in southeast, otherwise mainly rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state
Mainly rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Gale warning
Issued:

Northwesterly severe gale force 9 expected later

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state
Mainly rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or 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.