Shipping forecast and gale warnings
The general synopsis at midnight
Low just west of FitzRoy 986 expected 150 miles west of Rockall 960 by midnight tonight
Issued at: .
For the period to .
Shipping forecast and gale warnings map
Viking
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Utsire
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
South Utsire
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Forties
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8. In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- In northeast, slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. in southwest, slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- In northeast, fair. In southwest, occasional drizzle, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Forties
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- In northeast, easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8. In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- In northeast, slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. in southwest, slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- In northeast, fair. In southwest, occasional drizzle, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- In northeast, good. In southwest, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Cromarty
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Forth
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Tyne
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Dogger
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Fisher
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Easterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- East 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
German Bight
- Wind
- East veering southeast, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Humber
- Wind
- East veering southeast, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Thames
- Wind
- East veering southeast, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Dover
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Wight
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Portland
- Wind
- Southeast, veering southwest later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Plymouth
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Biscay
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- In northwest, southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. In southeast, southeasterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. in southeast, moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- In northwest, occasional rain, showers later. In southeast, showers.
- Visibility
- In northwest, good, occasionally poor. In southeast, moderate or good.
Biscay
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- In northwest, southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. In southeast, southeasterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In northwest, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later. in southeast, moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- In northwest, occasional rain, showers later. In southeast, showers.
- Visibility
- In northwest, good, occasionally poor. In southeast, moderate or good.
Trafalgar (issued 23:15 UTC+1)
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southerly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in far southeast, otherwise southerly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in southeast, moderate or rough elsewhere.
- Weather
- Thundery rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
FitzRoy
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly severe gale force 9 imminent
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Sole
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Lundy
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fastnet
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon, increasing severe gale force 9 later
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, veering south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, thundery showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Irish Sea
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing severe gale force 9 imminent, increasing storm force 10 soon
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 increasing storm force 10 soon
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Malin
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Hebrides
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 continuing
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Fair Isle
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain and fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate to very poor later.
Faeroes
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain and fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate to very poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Gale warning
-
Issued:
Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- 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.
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