Coast and Sea

Shipping forecast and gale warnings


The general synopsis at midnight

Atlantic low 1006 moving slowly northeast, expected 100 miles west of Sole 1003 by midnight tonight. High Wales 1022 dissipating

Issued at: .

For the period to .

Shipping forecast and gale warnings map


Viking

Wind
Westerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north, backing southwesterly 2 or 3 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in far north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

North Utsire

Wind
Westerly 4 or 5, backing southwesterly 2 or 3 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

South Utsire

Wind
Westerly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Forties

Wind
West 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Cromarty

Wind
West 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Forth

Wind
West 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Tyne

Wind
West 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Dogger

Wind
West 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fisher

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good.

German Bight

Wind
Southwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good.

Humber

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 4 or 5.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Showers later.
Visibility
Good.

Thames

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Dover

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Wight

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Portland

Wind
East or northeast 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate later in north.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Plymouth

Wind
Northeast becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally smooth.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Biscay

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather
Thundery showers later in south.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later in south.

Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Thundery showers later in northwest.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later in northwest.

FitzRoy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise southeasterly veering southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northwest.
Weather
Thundery showers, but fair at first in east.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Sole

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southerly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in west, slight or moderate in east.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Lundy

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers in west.
Visibility
Good.

Fastnet

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Irish Sea

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north.
Sea state
Smooth or slight.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, veering southerly 3 to 5 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
In south, easterly 5 to 7. In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather
In south, rain at times. In north, showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in south.

Rockall

Wind
In south, easterly 5 to 7. In north, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather
In south, rain at times. In north, showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in south.

Malin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Hebrides

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Bailey

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Fair Isle

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Faeroes

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northerly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in east, slight or moderate in west.
Weather
Showers in east.
Visibility
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.

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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